The Yorkshire Dales offer a mix of medium-sized peaks, broad open moorland, ancient drove tracks and limestone scenery that makes them a natural destination for trail and fell runners. From the classic Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, the dramatic gorge at Gordale Scar and the sweeping ridges of Swaledale and Wensleydale, there is no shortage of varied and challenging terrain.

With 40 routes ranging from 5 to 24 miles, this guidebook covers the full extent of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, graded from well-signposted tracks to harder terrain requiring strong navigational ability

• Routes are organised into four areas: South-West Dales and Three Peaks; North-West Dales and Howgills; North-East Dales, Swaledale and Wensleydale; and South-East Dales and Wharfedale
• Highlights include the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, Simon's Seat, Wild Boar Fell, Cautley Spout, Gunnerside Gill, Tan Hill from Keld, Buckden Pike and Bolton Abbey, alongside many lesser-known routes
• The Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra is described in three legs covering Pendragon Castle to Hawes, Hawes to Kettlewell and Kettlewell to Skipton, giving runners the option to tackle it as a single challenge or in stages
• Route descriptions are accompanied by mapping and gradient profiles, with key facts covering distance, ascent, descent and timings, and GPX files available to download
• Background information covers the history of running in the Yorkshire Dales, local races including the Three Peaks Race, running clubs, safety and equipment, navigation and accommodation

Long empty ridges, limestone pavements, waterfalls and ancient drove tracks, the Yorkshire Dales offer trail runners a landscape packed with variety and history. This guidebook provides everything you need to plan your next trail running adventure. 

Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales - Quick Facts

Routes: 40 trail and fell runs 
Distance range: 5 to 24 miles 
Grading: Five levels, from well-signposted tracks to hard terrain requiring strong navigational ability 
Areas covered: South-West Dales and Three Peaks; North-West Dales and Howgills; North-East Dales, Swaledale and Wensleydale; South-East Dales and Wharfedale 
Key centres: Grassington, Hawes, Settle, Sedbergh, Ingleton, Dent, Ribblehead, Malham 
Route highlights: Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, Ingleborough, Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, Simon's Seat, Wild Boar Fell, Cautley Spout, Gunnerside Gill, Great Shunner Fell, Buckden Pike, Bolton Abbey, Tan Hill 
Ultra: Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle (three legs) 
Route information: Distance, ascent, descent and timings provided for each route 
Mapping: Maps and gradient profiles included throughout 
Digital navigation: GPX files available to download 
Best season: Year-round; spring recommended for moorland wildlife

Author Highlight

“Trail running has recently become a popular addition to our sport, and the Dales provides an extensive network of paths, bridleways, tracks, trails and roads, offering some of the finest fell and trail running. Many of these routes follow ancient drove roads that were once used for transporting vital supplies between one dale and another.”

- Pete Ellwood, author of Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

The Yorkshire Dales

History and geology

Nesting restrictions

Accommodation

Transport

Maps

Running in the Yorkshire Dales

A brief history

Tracks and trails

Three Peaks race

Running clubs

Equipment

Navigation

Safety and mountain rescue

Using this guide

The South-West Dales and Three Peaks

Route 1 Settle Loop

Route 2 Crummackdale

Route 3 Pen-y-ghent

Route 4 The Three Peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough)

Route 5 Gragareth

Route 6 Ingleborough (from the Old Hill Inn)

Route 7 Ingleborough (via Park Fell)

Route 8 Dodd Fell

Route 9 Cosh

Route 10 Great Knoutberry

Route 11 Whernside (from Ribblehead)

The North-West Dales and Howgills

Route 12 Dent to Ribblehead

Route 13 Whernside (from Dent)

Route 14 Barbondale

Route 15 Black Force (Howgills)

Route 16 Bowderdale

Route 17 Wild Boar Fell

Route 18 Cautley Spout

Route 19 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 1 (Pendragon Castle to Hawes)

The North-East Dales, Swaledale and Wensleydale

Route 20 Asygarth

Route 21 Thornton Rust

Route 22 Bainbridge

Route 23 Maiden Castle (Reeth)

Route 24 Gunnerside Gill

Route 25 Muker

Route 26 Great Shunner Fell

Route 27 Tan Hill (from Keld)

Route 28 Arkengarthdale

Route 29 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 2 (Hawes to Kettlewell)

The South-East Dales and Wharfedale

Route 30 Bolton Abbey

Route 31 Simon’s Seat

Route 32 Malham Cove and Gordale Scar

Route 33 Mastiles Lane

Route 34 Grass Wood and Conistone Dib

Route 35 Troller’s Gill

Route 36 Great Whernside (from Kettlewell)

Route 37 Fountains Fell

Route 38 Buckden Pike

Route 39 Masham Moor

Route 40 Pendragon Castle to Skipton Castle Ultra Leg 3 (Kettlewell to Skipton)

Appendix A Useful contacts

Seasons

All routes included are runnable throughout the year. Some of the routes are best done in the spring when they come alive with the sounds of red grouse, curlews and lapwings.

Centres

The main bases for the routes include: Grassington, Hawes, Settle, Sedbergh, Ingleton and Dent.

Difficulty

The routes are graded into five levels, ranging from well signposted tracks with straightforward navigation, to more difficult routes covering harder terrain, steeper gradients and requiring greater navigational ability. There are sections covering equipment and mountain safety that are applicable to all the routes.

Must See

The Yorkshire Dales offers fantastic running. Encompassing the classic 'Three Peaks' of Pen Y Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, the beautiful Wharfedale and Swaledale. Runs include the magnificent limestone scenery of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, carved by the last ice age. Many of the runs follow ancient drove tracks, Roman roads and pass through a landscape rich in history.

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