Where to Base Yourself for the Dales Way: Hiker-Friendly Hotels and Cabins Near the Trailheads

Real villages, real distances and honest advice on where to sleep along the 80-mile route from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere.

Ilkley and Bolton Abbey: the first two nights

The Dales Way officially starts at Ilkley's Old Bridge, a ten-minute walk from the town's railway station, which has direct trains to Leeds and Bradford. If you are arriving by train the night before, base yourself in Ilkley itself — there is a cluster of guesthouses and small hotels within a mile of the bridge, and the town has good pubs and a Booths supermarket for last-minute trail food. Book early for Friday and Saturday nights; Ilkley fills up with Leeds day-trippers from May to September.

Most walkers cover the 10 miles to Bolton Abbey on day one, a flat, well-surfaced stretch along the River Wharfe past the Cow and Calf rocks. Bolton Abbey village has limited accommodation, so many people push on to Appletreewick or Grassington instead. If you want a short first day, stay in Addingham rather than Ilkley — it is cheaper, quieter and only three miles from the start, though you will need to book a taxi back if you leave a car there.

Grassington, Kettlewell and Buckden: the heart of the route

Grassington is the most practical base for the middle section. It sits two miles off the trail but has the widest choice of rooms in Upper Wharfedale — expect a double room in a pub with breakfast to run roughly £95–£150 in high season, and around £70–£90 in March or late October. The 72 bus links Grassington to Skipton, so you can arrive without a car and still reach Kettlewell, Buckden and Hubberholme by bus or a short taxi ride.

Kettlewell is the better choice if you want to walk straight from the door. The village sits directly on the Dales Way, has two pubs with rooms and a handful of self-catering cottages, and the 15-mile stage over Cam Fell to Dent is the toughest day on the route. Buckden, three miles further up the valley, is smaller but excellent for an early start the next morning. I would book Kettlewell over Grassington for a two-night stop, and Grassington for a three-night stop with rest days.

Dent, Sedbergh and the Howgills

Dent is the most memorable overnight on the whole route: a cobbled village perched above the Dee valley, with a station on the Settle–Carlisle line about a mile and a half downhill. Accommodation is limited to a few guesthouses, a pub with rooms and some bunkbarn-style options, so book two to three months ahead for summer weekends. The George and Dragon and the Sun Inn are the traditional choices; both fill quickly.

Sedbergh, seven miles further on, is a larger town with more beds, a bookshop quarter and easy access to the M6 at junction 37. It makes a good final-night stop before the long climb over the Howgills towards Burneside. If you are walking in July or August, expect to pay £100–£160 for a double with breakfast in Sedbergh; in April, £75–£110. The towns are 30 minutes apart by car, so a taxi between them is realistic if you need to skip a stage.

Bowness-on-Windermere and the final day

The trail ends at Bowness-on-Windermere, and the last stage from Burneside is a gentle six miles along the River Kent and through fields. Bowness has the widest accommodation choice of anywhere on the route, from small guesthouses on Biskey Howe Road to larger hotels on the lakefront, but it is also the most expensive: £120–£200 for a double in summer is normal. Book direct rather than through a portal if you want a late checkout after the walk.

Windermere town, a mile uphill from Bowness, is slightly cheaper and has the railway station for onward travel to Oxenholme and the West Coast Main Line. If you are finishing on a Sunday, check train times carefully — the Windermere branch runs roughly hourly but connections at Oxenholme can be tight. For a celebratory final night I would choose Bowness over Windermere; for an early train the next morning, Windermere wins.

Questions, answered

How far in advance should I book accommodation on the Dales Way?

For May to September, book two to three months ahead for Kettlewell, Buckden and Dent, where beds are scarce. Ilkley, Grassington, Sedbergh and Bowness have more options and can sometimes be booked three to four weeks out, but summer weekends still sell out early.

Can I walk the Dales Way without a car?

Yes. Ilkley and Windermere both have railway stations, and buses link Grassington, Kettlewell and Buckden to Skipton. Dent has its own station on the Settle–Carlisle line. A few taxi transfers, especially around Sedbergh, make the logistics much easier.

What is the best month to walk the Dales Way?

Late May, June and September offer the best balance of dry weather, long daylight and fewer crowds. July and August are busiest and accommodation is priciest. April and October are quieter and cheaper, but expect mud on the Cam Fell and Howgill sections.

← North Yorkshire's page