Road trips
Yorkshire Dales road trip: complete countryside guide
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With its charming villages, ancient history and beautiful wilderness, the Yorkshire Dales is a northern England destination teeming with incredible attractions. With staycations becoming ever more popular in the UK, we want to give holidaymakers the ultimate long weekend Yorkshire Dales road trip itinerary for upcoming spring and summer getaways.
Discover our fantastic five-day route below!
Where is the Yorkshire Dales National Park located?
The Yorkshire Dales area is in north-west England, part of the Pennines region of hills and mountains in the county of Yorkshire. The park covers most of Yorkshire as well as parts of Cumbria and Lancashire, made up of thousands of square miles of terrain made up of moorland, valleys, rivers, limestone hills, stone walls, and pretty villages.
The Dales are an ideal location for a family, couples’ or friends’ campervan or motorhome trip, as they’re easy to get to and full of stunning attractions and outdoor activities. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is only 50 miles north-east of Manchester, and easily accessed by Leeds and Bradford on its southern edge.
Harrogate lies to the south-east, while a drive out of the park and east will take travellers to the edge of the North York Moors. And if you want to explore more national parks, both the Lake District and the North Yorkshire Moors are within easy reach.
The National Park's visitor centres are at Aysgarth Falls, Grassington, Hawes, Malham and Reeth. But for the ultimate adventure inspiration, discover our five-day Yorkshire Dales road trip itinerary below!
Day 1: Leeds to Ilkley (with optional detour to Haworth or Harrogate)
Distance: 17 miles
Have a leisurely first day by setting out from Leeds to drive 17 miles to Ilkley on the very southern edge of the Dales (or drive 11 miles from Bradford, 36 from York or 53 from Manchester).
There’s plenty to do in and around this former spa town: browsing the independent shops, strolling by the River Wharfe or taking the kids to the Ilkley Toy Museum if you want something low-key – or hiking to the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor for a more adventurous afternoon.
Stay the night near Ilkley:
Clarion Lodge Campsite – hardstanding motorhome and caravan pitches with electric hook-up, on a small family-run site close to the Cow and Calf. The campsite has a ladies’ and gents’ toilet/shower block with free hot water and washing-up facilities in a communal log cabin.
Day 2 – Ilkley to Pateley Bridge and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Distance: 20 miles
Another short driving day but with heaps to see and do. Drive approx 20 miles from Ilkley to the old market town of Pateley Bridge, famous for having the oldest sweet shop in the world (established 1827). You could also go for a stroll with Nidderdale Llamas or drive five miles west from the town centre to see the caves at Stump Cross Caverns. The Nidderdale Way and the Six Dales Trail both pass through Pateley Bridge for scenic hikes.
Pateley Bridge is the only town in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), 233 square miles of breathtaking landscape popular with hikers and cavers, and home to the stunning Fountains Abbey and Jervaulx Abbey.
Stay the night in Nidderdale:
Heathfield Caravan Park– set right in the middle of the Nidderdale AONB, this well-maintained family-run park is on the Nidderdale Way five minutes’ drive or 30 minutes’ walk from Pateley Bridge. The park has a range of differently sized pitches for motorhomes, all on hardstanding and each with hook-up, TV point and patio area.
Day 3 – Pateley Bridge to Masham, Aysgarth Falls and Wensleydale
Distance: 42 miles
Drive approximately 15 miles north-east to Masham on the very edge of the national park for a stroll along the River Ure or nature spotting at Marfield Wetlands Nature Reserve. It’s about 20 miles from Masham to the Aysgarth Falls and its tourist centre with café next door for lunch; take a short woodland walk afterwards or hike up to the villages of Carperby or Aysgarth.
Leave Masham mid-afternoon and drive on to Wensleydale, famous for its cheese in turn made famous by Wallace and Gromit. Visitors can see the creamery, attend a cheese making demo and pick up souvenirs from the gift shop.
Stay the night near Wensleydale:
Bainbridge Ings Country Park is another family-run Yorkshire Dales campsite, in an elevated position with views of Wensleydale and the popular market town of Hawes a short walk away. 30 pitches are available for motorhomes, all with electric hook-up.
Day 4 – Wensleydale to Kirkby Stephen, the White Scar Cave and Settle (with optional stop at Sedbergh)
Distance: 60 miles
Day 4 starts with a 20-mile drive north from Wensleydale to Kirkby Stephen on the northern edge of the national park, a popular base for walkers exploring the Upper Eden Valley. Kirkby Stephen market days are on Monday.
Just east of Kirkby Stephen is 17th-century Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub. You can opt to visit another old pub, the Cross Keys Inn, at Sedbergh 20 miles south-west from Tan Hill, or drive the 40 miles from Kirkby Stephen straight to the market town of Settle and a ride on the Settle—Carlisle railway.
Alternative options:
Wensleydale to Kirkby Stephen (20 miles); Kirkby Stephen to the White Scar Cave, the longest show cave in England (30 miles); White Star Cave to Settle (15 miles).
Wensleydale to the White Scar Cave (15 miles); White Star Cave to Settle (15 miles).
Stay the night near Settle:
Dalesbridge is a roomy campsite between the Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland, 10 minutes’ drive from Settle and half an hour from the Three Peaks. The campsite has a licensed bar and campervan/motorhome pitches on grass, grass and hardstanding, or gravel and hardstanding.
Day 5 – Settle to Malham Cove and Skipton
Distance: 18 miles
Start early from Settle for an hour or two at Malham Cove (seven miles), the well-known Yorkshire Dales landmark that’s featured in films of Wuthering Heights and Harry Potter. Hike onwards to Gordale Scar (two miles) or the glacial lake Malham Tarn (four miles) for a picnic, or have lunch in Malham village.
After lunch, drive 11 miles from Malham to the market town of Skipton just outside the national park. Its best-known attraction is the well-preserved Skipton Castle, dating from Norman times and open to the public; set out on foot from here to walk part of the 100-mile Lady Anne's Way long-distance path.
Stay the night near Skipton:
Ash Keys Caravan Park lies six miles south-west of Skipton, on a five-acre corner of a family-run dairy farm in the hamlet of Eshton. The Pennine Way is accessible within a miler of the park. Ash Keys has fully-serviced hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up, and a shared shower and toilet block, Elsan point and fenced dog exercise area.
If you prefer to get back to your starting point on the evening of Day 5, Skipton is 27 miles from Leeds, 22 from Bradford, 45 from York and 50 from Manchester.
Hire a van for a Yorkshire Dales road trip
With so many exciting attractions and scenic campsites just waiting to be discovered, a Yorkshire Dales road trip is not to be missed. And with Camplify’s recommendations, you can enjoy an unforgettable campervan or motorhome holiday on any budget.
Start your road trip from one of these popular van pick-up points:
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The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.