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The Trails Shop guide to the best walks in Yorkshire

There are hundreds (probably thousands, quite possibly millions) of walks on the internet and you can spend hours trying to find the best walk for you.

And then you come across a website proudly claiming it has the "best walks" only to find it's a list of place names and a lot of seemingly unrelated ads.

Disclaimer

We’re holding our hands up – whilst this blog contains links to books and maps that we hope you'll buy, it has been written with the best intentions - to share our experience and knowledge of searching for walks online. We hope that you'll find the information useful and if you do decide you'd like a guidebook or map then we hope you'll buy them from us (we've also got some great mugs, t-shirts and socks!).

Yorkshire walks books, maps & merchandise

Pennine Way Pennine Way loading
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Pennine Way

£ 14.99
Cleveland Way Cleveland Way loading
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Cleveland Way

£ 14.99
Pennine Way (South) A-Z Adventure Atlas Pennine Way (South) A-Z Adventure Atlas loading
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Cleveland Way A-Z Adventure Atlas Cleveland Way A-Z Adventure Atlas loading
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Pennine Way (North) A-Z Adventure Atlas Pennine Way (North) A-Z Adventure Atlas loading
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Coast to Coast Badge (Enamel) Coast to Coast Badge (Enamel) loading
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Cleveland Way enamel badge Cleveland Way enamel badge loading
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Cleveland Way National Trail Harvey map Cleveland Way National Trail Harvey map loading
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Cycling the Pennine Bridleway Cycling the Pennine Bridleway loading
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Pennine Bridleway Harvey map Pennine Bridleway Harvey map loading
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Pennine Way Badge (Enamel) Pennine Way Badge (Enamel) loading
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Cleveland Way Completion Certificate Cleveland Way Completion Certificate loading
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Coast to Coast Walk woven sew-on badge Coast to Coast Walk woven sew-on badge loading
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Pennine Way (North) - Harvey map - Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm Pennine Way (North) - Harvey map - Middleton-in-Teesdale to Kirk Yetholm loading
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Cleveland Way woven sew-on badge Cleveland Way woven sew-on badge loading
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Walking the Pennine Way National Trail - guidebook with map Walking the Pennine Way National Trail - guidebook with map loading
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Walking The Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way Walking The Cleveland Way and the Yorkshire Wolds Way loading
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Let's Walk the Cleveland Way Let's Walk the Cleveland Way loading
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Pennine Bridleway Pennine Bridleway loading
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Cleveland Way woven sew-on badge - circular Cleveland Way woven sew-on badge - circular loading
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Pennine Way (South) - Harvey map - Edale to Middleton-in-Teesdale Pennine Way (South) - Harvey map - Edale to Middleton-in-Teesdale loading
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Pennine Way Completion Certificate Pennine Way Completion Certificate loading
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Pennine Way woven sew-on badge Pennine Way woven sew-on badge loading
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Let's Walk the Yorkshire Coast Let's Walk the Yorkshire Coast loading
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Cleveland Way - Trailblazer Cleveland Way - Trailblazer loading
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Walking the Coast to Coast Walk Walking the Coast to Coast Walk loading
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Pennine Way: Edale to Kirk Yetholm (Trailblazer) - 6th edition Pennine Way: Edale to Kirk Yetholm (Trailblazer) - 6th edition loading
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Cleveland Way Cleveland Way loading
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Cleveland Way

£ 12.99
Cleveland Way woven patch badge Cleveland Way woven patch badge loading
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Coast to Coast Walk Art Print Coast to Coast Walk Art Print loading
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Coast to Coast Walk Art Print

£ 19.95 - £ 29.95
Pennine Way woven patch badge Pennine Way woven patch badge loading
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Coast to Coast Harvey map Coast to Coast Harvey map loading
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100 Walks in Yorkshire: North York Moors and Wolds 100 Walks in Yorkshire: North York Moors and Wolds loading
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Pennine Way 1 - Zigzag map - Edale to Standedge Pennine Way 1 - Zigzag map - Edale to Standedge loading
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Pennine Bridleway enamel badge Pennine Bridleway enamel badge loading
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Walking the Pennine Way map booklet Walking the Pennine Way map booklet loading
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The Pennine Way - the Path, the People, the Journey The Pennine Way - the Path, the People, the Journey loading
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Cleveland Way 'contours' T-Shirt Cleveland Way 'contours' T-Shirt loading
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Cicerone Coast to Coast Walk OS Map Booklet Cicerone Coast to Coast Walk OS Map Booklet loading
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Walking The Dales Way Walking The Dales Way loading
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Dales Way Harvey map Dales Way Harvey map loading
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Top 10 Walks - Yorkshire Dales: Dales & Valleys Top 10 Walks - Yorkshire Dales: Dales & Valleys loading
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Coast to Coast 'contours' T-Shirt Coast to Coast 'contours' T-Shirt loading
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Pennine Bridleway Completion Certificate Pennine Bridleway Completion Certificate loading
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Her Master's Walks in the Cleveland Hills Her Master's Walks in the Cleveland Hills loading
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Top 10 Walks - Yorkshire Dales: Fell Walks Top 10 Walks - Yorkshire Dales: Fell Walks loading
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Headland Way signs Headland Way signs loading
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Cleveland Way Art Print Cleveland Way Art Print loading
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Cleveland Way Art Print

£ 19.95 - £ 29.95
100 Walks in Yorkshire: West Riding & The Dales 100 Walks in Yorkshire: West Riding & The Dales loading
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Pennine Bridleway woven sew-on badge Pennine Bridleway woven sew-on badge loading
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The best websites

We know quite a bit about promoting walks, whether that’s online, in print or in person so we  know what we’re talking about it (at least we think we do!). And like many of you out there, we’ve also spent hours searching the internet for a decent walk to do at the weekend.

We think the best websites have a good map and some decent directions. Perhaps some enticing photos, information about car parking and where the nearest café, pub, and loos are. Details of interesting things to see or do along the way are always a bonus. And helpfully, what to expect in terms of terrain, if there are any steps, stiles or gates, steep ascents/descents and whether it’s suitable for pushchairs, dogs, wheelchairs or children.


Whether you're looking for short walks, long distance multi-day challenges, family walks suitable for pushchairs or little legs, dog friendly walks, pub walks, tea-room walks or walks with great views we've found websites with walks to suit everyone and we've made a list of some the websites we use most regularly to find a good walk. Let us know if you agree and please do share your own recommendations.

The North York Moors National Park

The North York Moors National Park’s website is one of the best. It features a handy interactive map displaying walks within the park's boundary. You can filter by difficulty, distance, special features including dog-friendly, public-transport friendly and accessibility (which will display the 'miles without stiles' routes). Clicking on a route gives further details including a description, map and elevation profile and photographs.

Browse walks on the North York Moors National Park Authority's website or view our favourites below.

Photo CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED - A deep valley in the North York Moors by Jack Cousin - flickr.com/photos/jackcousin/43071550345
A valley in the North York Moors

The Trails Shop recommends

Steam train at a station

Newtondale Walk

A woodland walk combined with a steam railway – what’s not to like?! This 6 mile circular walk from Levisham station runs parallel to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line before a circular loop through woodland. On your return reward yourself with a cuppa and cake at the station’s Weighbridge Tea Hut or extend the walk up to the village of Levisham and enjoy a pint at The Horseshoe Inn. Why not park the car in Pickering and catch the train to Levisham?

Find out more on the North York Moors National Park Authority's website.

Rocky path

Wainstones Walk

Looking for a bit of a challenge with spectacular views? We'd recommend the 8-mile circular Wainstones Walk. 'The Stones' are a dramatic rock outcrop and a favourite with rock climbers. From the top you get panoramic views of the surrounding heather moorland and patchwork of fields. You'll experience the highest point of the Cleveland Way at Urra Moor as you head back to the car park at Chop Gate.

Find out more on the North York Moors National Park Authority's website.

Photo The Wain Stones from below by Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A sheep on moorland

Looking for a book or map?

We've got a great range of guidebooks and maps for the North York Moors.

Browse the collection on our North York Moors page.

Photo by Thomas Fryatt on Unsplash

National Trails

National Trails are long distance routes - most of them walks but some can be ridden on mountain bike or horse. They're maintained to high standards and are way-marked with a distinctive acorn symbol.

Yorkshire is lucky enough to be home to 5 National Trails (Cleveland Way, King Charles III England Coast Path, Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway, Yorkshire Wolds Way - and it will be 6 once the Coast to Coast Path is complete!).

Even if you're not looking for a multi-day hike, there are some fantastic short walks using the trails, taking in some of the best scenery in the county.

Visit the National Trails website to find out more or view our favourites below.
Wooden waymarker post with acorn symbol

The Trails Shop recommends

Gibson Mill

Hebden Bridge Round

A 7.5 mile circular walk from the charming old textile mill town of Hebden Bridge. Follow the towpath of the Rochdale Canal before picking up the Pennine Way National Trail. You'll pass by 19th-century Gibson Mill before heading back to Hebden Bridge alongside Hebden Beck.

Find out more on the National Trails website.

Photo by Chris Combe from York, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A valley on the Yorkshire Wolds

Huggate

A 5 mile circular route on the Yorkshire Wolds Way. With views in all directions, on a clear day you can see York Minster, the Humber Bridge and Flamborough Lighthouse. There are no steps or stiles.

Find out more on the National Trails website.

Photo © National Trails (North)

North Yorkshire coast

Robin Hood's Bay Walk

This short 'Miles without Stiles' walk of about 1 mile out and back along the Cleveland Way and King Charles III England Coast Path National Trails offers one of the most spectacular views over the village of Robin Hood’s Bay and across to the magnificent cliffs of Ravenscar.

Find out more on the National Trails website.

Photo © Malcolm Hodgson

Path through trees

Parsley Hay

A 4.5 mile route suitable for all on the Pennine Bridleway (yes, we know, it's in Derbyshire not Yorkshire but it is lovely!). The route starts at Parsley Hay Visitors Centre where there is car parking and a toilet, cafe and shop (all wheelchair accessible). You'll follow the High Peak Trail and the Tissington Trail, which are both disused railway lines.

It is recommended that horse riders start instead from Hartington Station where there is a dedicated horsebox parking area.

Find out more on the National Trails website.

CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED - The Tissington Trail in Derbyshire by JR P - flickr.com/photos/ugardener/3447990635/

Woman reading a map

Need a book or map?

We've got a great range of guide books, maps and merchandise for the National Trails.

Visit our National Trails page to select a trail and browse the collection.

Photo by Nick Seagrave on Unsplash

Leeds List

The Leeds List is a great website for Leeds and the surrounding area (but also covers the entire county). Food and drink, days out, nights out and walks!

Visit their walks page to find their recommendations for everything from easy walks that end at the pub to crisp winter walks, canal walks and photogenic walks within an hour of Leeds!

Browse some of our favourite Leeds List walks below.

CC BY 2.0 DEED - Huddersfield Broad Canal by Tim Green - flickr.com/photos/atoach/4672605712/
Path along a canal

The Trails Shop recommends

Bridge over river at Knaresborough

Knaresborough Circular

This 3 mile walk at Knaresborough is one of the "easy walks that ends at the pub" but if you don't fancy a pint, then there are plenty of lovely cafes in the town that you can grab a coffee at. The walk combines urban and rural following the River Nidd to Knaresborough Castle before heading back to either the Mother Shipton Inn or The Half Moon for post-walk refreshment.

Find out more on the Leeds List website.

Photo CC BY 2.0 DEED - Knaresborough View by Karen Roe - flickr.com/photos/karen_roe/25358840582

Bingley Five Rise Locks

Five Rise Locks Walk

As the steepest staircase lock in the country, Bingley Five Rise Locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. This 2.1 mile walk is a family-friendly walk from Bingley Station along the canal towpath. Enjoy a sandwich or slice of cake at the Five Rise Locks Cafe or head back to explore the options in town.

Find out more on the Leeds List website.

Photo CC BY 2.0 DEED - Five Rise Locks by Tim Green - flickr.com/photos/atoach/5170505258

Top Withens near Haworth

Haworth Circular

This 7 mile walk starts and ends in Haworth and visits two landmarks associated with the Bronte family. The Bronte Falls were a favourite of the Bronte sisters, look out for the L-shaped stone called Charlotte's Chair where Charlotte Bronte used to sit! Enjoy the picturesque views as you continue on to the ruined Top Withens, said to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights.

Find out more on the Leeds List website.

Photo Top Withens by Graham Hogg, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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