Dales Way Run

Dales Way Run

A trail running holiday from Ilkley to Bowness through the North York Moors.

4 to 6 nights
79 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding

From £575 per person

Find your holiday

About this route

4 to 6 nights
79 miles
Easy / Moderate to Demanding
26th March to 15th October

From £575 per person

Dales Way Run

From the Yorkshire town of Ilkley, all the way to Bowness in the Lake District, the Dales Way Run covers 78 miles (125 km) through the Yorkshire Dales on quality running trails.

There are several testing hills as you cross two national parks, taking in classic moorland and the much-loved lumps of the Lake District. Enjoy classic Yorkshire countryside, singing rivers, dreamy dales and old stonewalls.

Start with a long rise and fall through the moors, with smaller hills to tackle towards the end. Muddy your running shoes in two of England's finest national parks on this joyous yomp.

Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Dales Way Run map
Ilkley/Bowness-on-Windermere
79 miles (126 km)
26th March to 15th October

Holiday highlights

Enjoying the contrasting scenery of two national parks: the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.

Running along quality trails through the rolling fields of the Yorkshire Dales, crisscrossed by iconic dry stone walls.

Taking in all the interesting history along the way at sites such as the romantic ruins of Bolton Priory.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
R-DW2 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 4 nights, 3 days running Demanding £575
R-DW3 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 5 nights, 4 days running Moderate £700
R-DW4 From Ilkley to Bowness-On-Windermere 6 nights, 5 days running Easy / Moderate £780

Dales Way Trail Run 4 nights, 3 days running

£NNN per person
  • Itinerary
  • What's included?
  • Extra nights?
  • Tour facts
  • Route profile
  • Travel info
  • Weather
  • Holiday Highlights
Start

Travel to Ilkley where your first night's accommodation will be booked

Day 1

Ilkley to Buckden. 26 miles (42km) / 2169 ft (661 m) ascent

Day 2

Buckden to Sedbergh(L). 26.5 miles (42km) / 2201 ft (671 m) ascent

Day 3

Sedbergh(L) to Bowness-On-Windermere. 26 miles (41.5km) / 2323 ft (708 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Bowness-On-Windermere after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.

Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers
Solo Traveller Supplement
£60.00 per person / per night
Single Supplement
£50.00 per person / per night


You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Sedbergh(L))
£75.00 per person / per night
Standard
Interactive
© Contours Walking Holidays Dales Way Run map
Ilkley/Bowness-on-Windermere
79 miles (126 km)
26th March to 15th October

Holiday highlights

Enjoying the contrasting scenery of two national parks: the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.

Running along quality trails through the rolling fields of the Yorkshire Dales, crisscrossed by iconic dry stone walls.

Taking in all the interesting history along the way at sites such as the romantic ruins of Bolton Priory.

What's included?

  • 4 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
  • Breakfast each day.
  • Door to door luggage transfer.
  • Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
  • An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
  • Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

Taking an extra night is the perfect way to extend your trail running holiday and give yourself extra time to relax and explore the Yorkshire Dales, as there is plenty to discover and enjoy at each location along the trail.

Buckden is a village and civil parish worth exploring on a rest day; an attractive jumble of stone cottages perched on the hillside with fantastic views over the River Wharfe. In the centre of the village sits Buckden Palace, a former residence of the bishops of Lincoln between the 12th and 19th centuries and host to a number of Kings of England who have stayed there, making this just one of many interesting local landmarks to visit. Take a gentle recovery jog around the local area and see what you can discover.

At the end of the trail, Bowness-on-Windermere provides a perfect base from which to explore the southern Lake District after completing your running holiday. By spending an extra day in this sprawling tourist town, you will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the various sights and attractions on offer. In particular, Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the main centres of outdoor activities in the UK and boasts a wide variety of activity options, including sailing, kayaking and other water sports out on the lake. With such a variety of things to do, a stay in Bowness-on-Windermere will ensure your holiday finishes on a high note.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Extra night (Standard)
£65.00 per person / per night
Extra night (Sedbergh(L))
£75.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 78.5 miles (125.5 km)
Duration: 4 nights, 3 days running
Minimum daily distance: 26 miles (41.5 km)
Maximum daily distance: 26.5 miles (42 km)
Code: R-DW2 Grade: Demanding
Season: 26th March - 15th October
Start of holiday: Ilkley
End of holiday: Bowness-On-Windermere

Route Profile

Dales Way Trail Run Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Ilkley) and also at the end of the trail (Windermere).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Ilkley and from Windermere.

From London - Trains run from London Kings Cross station to Ilkley.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to take a train from Windermere to Ilkley.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

  • MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
  • Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
  • Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.