Short Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

All these easy walks are found within the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park

Do you want a short and easy walk in the Yorkshire Dales?

Yes? Then welcome and hello! This is our page dedicated to short and easy walks found in the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

You might be surprised to see walks that feature waterfalls, ruins, peaks, playparks and more because our short walks pack a lot of punch for mini wanders! Some will be pushchair friendly, some will need a carrier, some are great for young explorers some are great for older kids who just fancy a short walk (ok….. the older kids ALWAYS fancy a short walk!)

And for the grown ups… I can guarantee that at least some feature a pub!

Walk Difficulty Ratings

All of our tried and tested kid friendly walks have been divided into 3 categories dependant on difficulty, length and terrain:

⭐ Little Monkeys:

Walks suitable for younger children. Shorter length walks with occasional pushchair access.

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers:

Walks suitable for pre-schoolers. Medium length/ difficulty walks.

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers:

Walks suitable for older children. Longer length walks with some difficult terrain.

Paddling in the West Burton Waterfalls

Walks at a Glimpse

Here is our quick look key so you can identify what each walk has without taking too long!

👶 Suitable for Pushchairs

🎒 Suitable for Carriers

🚘 Car Park/ On Street Parking

🚌 Public Transport Links

🐶 Dog Friendly

🥾 Sturdy Footwear or Wellies

🧒 A park or play area

🦆 Ducks to Feed

💦 Water play/ paddle/ swim

✨ Cool history or geology

👻 Legendary Story

🌳 Walking Games

West Burton Waterfall in the Yorkshire Dales

West Burton Waterfalls (And Cauldron Falls)

📍 West Burton in Wensleydale, Yorkshire Dales (Central)

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾🎒/👶🧒💦🌳🚜🚌🐶

📏 Less than 1.5 miles

This spectacular set of falls in the small village of West Burton in Wensleydale is one of our absolute favourites. Not only is the circular walk a short one, but you can walk here with a pushchair for a super short walk for the youngest of explorers. It has a pub, a small play area, places to spot farm animals, spots to pick blackberries and is an epic paddle spot in the Summer.

Linton Falls and Stepping Stones

📍 Linton, near Grassington, Yorkshire Dales (South)

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾💦🎒✨🌳👻🚌🐶

📏 1.5 - 2 miles

This fab walk is a great wander for little legs, with a waterfall, places to throw stones and paddle, stepping stones and a park at the end (if you start at Grassington).

Grassington is packed full of places to eat, drink and explore, so makes sure you head into the town afterwards!

(This walk features stepping stones, bear in mind that stepping stones will be submerged after wet weather.)

Yordas Cave

📍 Kingsdale, just up from Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales (South)

⭐ Little Monkeys

🚘🥾💦🎒✨🌳👻🐶

📏 Less than 1 mile

This is a fab little introduction for little ones to exploring a bit of a wild cave…. As an ex Victorian show cave, the cavern is easy to access, requires no squeezing or crawling, and all you need is a pair of good wellies and a powerful torch. And with this one, you can absolutely get away with saying it’s not a walk it’s an adventure, because if you explore to the back of the cave, you’ll find the Chapter House waterfall too!

Bear in mind that the beck running through the cave will flood after prolonged rainfall. Save your visit for another day in these circumstances as you won’t be going anywhere!

Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales

Malham Cove

📍 Malham, Malhamdale, Yorkshire Dales

⭐ / ⭐⭐ Little Monkeys/ Little Adventurers

👶/🎒🥾💦🌳

A work of geological wonder, this stunning location is not only the home of a top kid friendly walk, but was the filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1! Love a Potter reference…

Scaleber Force waterfall outside of Settle Yorkshire Dales

Scaleber Force

📍 Near Settle, Yorkshire Dales (South)

🚘🎒🥾🌳💦🐶

📏 Less than 1 mile

This 40 foot high beauty of a waterfall is located just outside of Settle in a glorious wooded gorge. The walk itself is very short, but is well worth the effort! At the bottom, you’ll find a stunning waterfall, with perfect sized paddling pool underneath it! Plus, it’s just a stone’s throw from Settle.

Bear in mind that the path down to the waterfall is steep and there are unguarded drops on this walk.

Beamsley Beacon trig point

Beamsley Beacon

📍 Langbar near Bolton Abbey

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾🎒🌳✨🐶

📏 less than 2 miles

This top little trig point offers history and a tragic tale, so a lot to talk about for under 2 miles!

Hardraw Force in Wensleydale

Hardraw Force

📍 Hardraw, near Hawes in Wensleydale

⭐ Little Monkeys

🚘👶/🎒💦👻🌳🚌🐶

📏 less than 1 mile

This fabulously accessible circular waterfall walk is ace. Located on private land, access to the waterfall is payable at the visitor centre, located behind the Green Dragon pub. There are a couple of trails, one of which is pushchair accessible.

Halton Gill Bridge Littondale

Halton Gill, Littondale

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

📍 Littondale, near Wharfedale, Central Yorkshire Dales

🎒🚘🥾💦🌳

This circular walk was born out of my desire to visit a movie location! So if you want a dose of Hollywood, coupled with a heavy hit of Yorkshire Dales phwoar in a super secret location? This one’s for you!

Scale Haw Force in Hebden

Scale Haw Force, Hebden

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

🚘🥾💦✨🌳🚌🐶

📍 Hebden, near Grassington. Yorkshire Dales National Park

📏 Less than 2 miles

The most secret waterfall…

Also known as Scale Haw Force, this incredible waterfall is an absolute belter. Located on Hebden Beck, the waterfall is only really accessible by wading up the Beck or scrambling along the bank, which is what has earned it its Superstar Hikers rating, despite being less than 2.5km in length.

Buckden Beck Waterfalls

⭐ Little Monkeys

🎒 🚘 🥾💦🌳

📍 Buckden, Upper Wharfedale

A whole world of waterfalls!

This walk is a mini romp to Buckden Beck Waterfalls. The higher you climb, the bigger the falls! So for crystal clear pools, perfect for paddling, then head to the walk description below!

Kettlewell the river wharfe

Kettlewell Stepping Stones

📍 Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale, The Yorkshire Dales

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers

🚘🥾💦🧒🌳

This is a brilliant little wander for the littlest budding explorers. Featuring stepping stones, paddling spots and a park, it’s kid heaven!

Cotter Force in Wensleydale in full flow

Cotter Force

📍 Near Hawes, Wensleydale

⭐ Little Monkeys

👶💦✨🌳

This is a brilliantly accessible waterfall walk in Wensleydale. Both pushchair and wheelchair accessible, it’s also the perfect length for very little legs, just starting to explore!

Short muker circular walk to Rampsholme Bridge

Muker Circular

⭐ Little Monkeys

📍 Muker, Swaledale

💦🎒🌳🥾

📏 Under 2 miles

This mini wander is the perfect circular for little legs.

Starting and ending in the gorgeous village of Muker in Swaledale, the views are to die for! Plus the walk will take you to a riverside picnic and paddle spot too and there’s a pub at the end!

Scroll using the arrows for all our Family Friendly Walks

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