Accessible Guide to the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park - one of the country’s 15  breathing spaces to escape the everyday. A wonderful place to visit that offers something for everyone,  whether you are looking to explore or simply relax in a quiet village, our wide selection of Yorkshire Dales cottages places you right in the heart of this stunning landscape. Here in the Yorkshire Dales National Park you will see so many examples of what makes the area ‘Distinctly Dales’ such as the limestone cliffs, paths and caves and over 5,000 miles of dry stone walls, all built by hand, without mortar, relying on how they carefully fit together to remain stable, and often stretching in a straight line up hill and down dale, some dating back to the 13th century.

Scenic drives through dramatic valleys, rocky outcrops, trees, streams and endless green hills. The area is scattered with small villages and farmsteads with remote barns dotted in fields.  Many valleys are wild and remote, but this is one of the wonderful aspects of this landscape set against an ever-changing skyline. To ensure your stay is as comfortable as it is memorable, view our accessible cottages in the Yorkshire Dales designed to meet mobility requirements, allowing you to enjoy the distinct character of the region without compromise.

There are 20 larger dales, such as  the famous locations of  - 

• Wensleydale
• Swaledale
• Wharfedale
• Arkengarthdale
• Littondale - also the main filming locations for the original and current TV series of ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.

This total rises to over 50, with many lesser known valleys of – 

• Bishopdale
• Coverdale
• Crummockdale
• Langstrothdale, all with their own character.

It is like stepping back in time to a destination that is traditional and peaceful with stunning views in every direction, combined with vibrant picturesque market towns and villages full of sensory delights. 

Food and Drink

Yorkshire Dales food provenance is renowned for its high quality, especially meats and cheeses from so many local micro businesses, many of which are local farming families. Cheese lovers can try some of over 100 varieties of local cheeses when visiting the multi award winning greengrocers of Campbells of Leyburn or Courtyard Dairy near Settle and of course the famous Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes, where you can see the cheese being made by hand every day. 

Home to many food and drink providers, local arts and crafts and opportunities to experience tours, talks and exhibitions to inspire. Businesses such as – 

• The Black Sheep Brewery
• Theakston Brewery
• Wensleydale Ice Cream Parlour and Coffee Shop
• Brymor Ice Cream
• Wensleydale Gin Company 

to mention just a few! 

Also, Access the Dales Charity provides listings of wheelchair accessible pubs.

Scenery and Sensory Highlights

It is a photographer and artists paradise with spectacular waterfalls, castles and ancient ruins, iconic landmarks and scenery, such as the Kilnsey Estate, once painted by the well-known artist J.M.W.Turner. The area is also a dark sky reserve and home to the Three Peaks, so visitors are never far away from a stunning view.

• Villages such as Burnstall, with the Riverbank Burnsall café and The Red Lion pub, with riverside seating terrace and nearby Miles Without Stiles walking route, make a great place to enjoy some great food and drink with local produce.
• Kettlewell is a small grey stone village with 3 pubs, tearoom and an annual Scarecrow Festival, famous for the film location of Calendar Girls. With narrow back lanes and picturesque cottages visitors can stroll around recognising the film locations. 

Scenic drives make an excellent choice for those with limited mobility to soak up the scenery.  

• The Buttertubs Pass, between Wensleydale and Swaledale, is a scenic drive from Hawes to Thwaite, known for its steep climbs, dramatic corners and moorland scenery. There are many laybys on the route that make a great picnic spot.
• A drive through Malhamdale, past Malham Cove and the dramatic limestone scenery, is a must-see landscape.

Access to Historic Places and Walks

As with many castles and ruins, access can be challenging but that does not mean that visitors with mobility challenges cannot visit and enjoy the wonderful attractions.  Some areas have restricted access, but all are still worth a visit, such as – 

• Bolton Castle
• Middleham Castle
• Skipton Castle
• Richmond Castle. 
• Bolton Castle  - please note the castle does not have accessible toilets or wheelchair access into the castle due to spiral staircases, but visitors can prearrange for the Portcullis to be opened gaining access into the courtyard, which gives excellent viewing of displays and demonstrations.

The region is known for its wonderful walks. This can cause a challenge to wheelchair users wishing to visit the area, but there is so much available for those with mobility challenges to have the most wonderful holiday experience.  The three main sources of accessible walks in the Yorkshire Dales are -

• Access the Dales – an award-winning charity that provides great information for anyone wishing to visit the Yorkshire Dales who require wheelchair access. They are continually adding access hubs across the region to provide equipment to open the countryside to all. It is advisable to pre-book mobility scooters and check before visiting that they are in service, to avoid disappointment. 
• Miles without Stiles from the National Park Authority - a well-known project across many national parks which brings together great information about areas suitable for those with mobility challenges.
• The Outdoor Guide

All three of these organisations outline suitable wheelchairs, scooter hire, car parking, toilet facilities and type of walk.

Toilets

Changing Places Toilets is a campaign which is gathering great momentum across the region, and this opens the area to those with severe disabilities. Places such as – 

• Skipton
• Leyburn
• Northallerton
• Hawes
• Grassington
• Ripon
• Settle
• Lightwater Valley Theme Park

All have these vital facilities. These facilities are a good indication of being able to enjoy and spend more time in a location.

The region is scattered with country inns and pubs, many of which have restricted access for services such as accessible toilets. However, the National Park Authority have put in great provision for accessible toilets across the Yorkshire Dales and therefore visitors are never too far away from a toilet. 

‘A brew, a view, and a loo’ is never too far away!

Transport

Public transport is available but it is recommended that travelling by car is an easier way to explore the destination if a visitor has access needs due to the times and frequency of train and bus services.

Traditional railways, such as the Wensleydale Railway and Embsay & Bolton Railway are all wheelchair accessible and provide a wonderful day out visiting places such as Bolton Abbey. Settle to Carlise Railway has wheelchair access on certain carriages and trains and requires visitors to prebook. 

Places of Interest

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centres have knowledgeable and caring staff, to give guidance on visiting the area. These centres are situated across the Yorkshire Dales providing a wonderful base to have enjoyable days out. They provide accessible parking for blue badge holders, nearby refreshments, and toileting facilities.

• Aysgarth Visitor Centre and Aysgarth Falls, a three stepped waterfall, have Tramper hire and wheelchair accessible viewing points of this unforgettable scenery. A visit after heavy rainfall is particularly impressive. This was also a film location for Robin Hood-Prince of Thieves.
• Grassington Visitor Centre with a level access route leading into the famous village, known for its connection to the TV show ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. Visitors can browse around the centre of the village, and enjoy the atmosphere of this bustling, beautiful destination. As with many small towns, traditional features such as cobbles and narrow pavements can be challenging but there are smooth ways to navigate the area.
• Blue Badge parking is also available at the Linton Falls car park where level access can be found to access the bridge to experience Linton Falls, a stunning waterfall and scenic river views. 
• The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, is a great starting point to explore this vibrant market town. A fabulous exhibition tells the story of this remarkable area, along with its people, and information is available about exploring the town. Visitors who are wheelchair users may wish to park in the Market Square to have level access to the many businesses offering local produce, food and drink and wonderful crafts. Hawes is famous for the Wensleydale Creamery which has excellent accessible facilities and makes an enjoyable experience for cheese tasting and its connection to Wallace and Gromit, which makes it a must-see attraction. There is a vibrancy and great atmosphere to Hawes which makes an unforgettable day out.
• The village of Malham, with great parking and a good base for exploring this pretty landscape, which has a famous 70m high white limestone cliff, featured in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie. To reach the base of this cliff there is a step free pathway, but it is essential to pre-book and hire the Tramper mobility scooters, two of which are available from the visitor centre and one available at the Listers Arms Public House, due to the sloped gradients. The Listers Arms does have wheelchair access in to the bar area.
• There is a level access path to the Gordale Scar, which also has dramatic scenery.
• A scenic drive up to Malham Tarn provides great viewpoints and a National Trust mobility scooter that can be pre-booked for a Miles Without Stiles route around The Tarn.
• Ingleborough Visitor Centre is a place to visit for the nature trail and cave, which is wheelchair accessible, and there are also mobility scooters to pre-book. Known as ‘Land of Caves and Waterfalls’ it is worth a visit.
• For those wanting a luxury experience of an accessible spa and afternoon tea, places such as the Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa, the Swinton Estate (set within the National Park) and the nearby Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, on the edge of the national park, offer amazing facilities such as pool hoists and lifts and exceptional customer service.
• Attractions such as Fountains Abbey, Jervaulx Abbey, Ripon Cathedral, Tennants Auctioneers and Tours, Skipton Canal and the wheelchair accessible canal boat, along with the Graceful Swan floating restaurant, make the area bursting with opportunities. Accessible Leyburn is a project to improve information in the town and surrounding areas.
• The Yorkshire Dales are home to many impressive waterfalls.  One of the most accessible waterfalls is Cotter Force, with a specially graded path and benches along the route to rest. This hidden gem is a tranquil place to visit.
• Hardraw Force is a 30-metre cascade and is the highest above-ground waterfall in England.

Throughout the majority of the Yorkshire Dales villages there will always be those quaint cobbled streets and some challenging pavements but with the ability to enjoy a great day out, with great facilities and the information mentioned above, it’s a beautiful area.