Western Yorkshire Dales Walks

Westmorland Dales walks in and around Sedbergh, Dent, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen and Mallerstang

Looking for a walk in Sedbergh, Dent, Ravenstonedale,Kirkby Stephen or Mallerstang?

Then you are in the right place! Here, you’ll find all of our walks that are located in and around the Eden Valley and Westmorland Dales areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Yes, we are firmly placing one foot in Cumbria and the other in North Yorkshire, but it’s all Yorkshire Dales National Park so it’s all good for us!

On each walk page, you will find all about the stuff that’s super kid friendly, like where the parks are, whether there’s ice cream, or whether there’s a cool legend or a bit of history to know about where you are!

So scroll down for waterfall walks, walks with incredible industrial history, woodland walks, bluebell walks, walks with legends and more!

You might also like…

If you are staying in the Western Dales area, you might fancy a little trip over into Wensleydale too, so you might want to also check out our Wensleydale Walks or perhaps our Swaledale Walks, or check out our visit Hawes with the Kids Guide! Looking for information about the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail? Then check out our Visit with kids guide for the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.

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.

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

Rutter Force

📍 Hoff near Appleby in Westmorland, Westmorland Dales (Yorkshire Dales National Park)

⭐⭐ Little Adventurers.

📏 3-4 miles

💦🚘🌳🥾✨🐶🎒

Rutter Force is a stunning waterfall located on Hoff Beck right at the North-Western border of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This short circular walk is mainly flat and starts and ends at the pub!

Tap here to head to Rutter Force Waterfall

Cautley Spout

📍 Sedbergh, Westmorland Dales

⭐⭐/ ⭐⭐⭐ Little Adventurers and Superstar Hikers - Two Options, one avoids the very steep ascent of Cautley Spout.

📏 4.5 km (3 miles)

💦🚘🌳🥾✨🚌🐶🎒

Cautley Spout is England’s highest cascade waterfall. At 198m, it really is spectacular to see! So spectacular, you can literally see the waterfall from nearly a mile away, as you drive past on the road.

So of course you want to head to go and see it right?

This walk gives you options. The ascent up to the top of Cautley Spout is very steep and should not be attempted with children in either wet weather or high winds, as it is very exposed. In fair weather, it is brilliant for older explorers and the views from the top are MARVELLOUS! For younger explorers, you will find plenty of excitement at the base of the main falls, where there are picnic spots aplenty and lots of places to play and splash!

Tap here to head to Cautley Spout

Sedbergh’s Secret Waterfall

📍 Sedbergh, Westmoreland Dales, Cumbria

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk 2-3 miles

🥾🎒🚘🚌🧒💦🌳🐶

This fab circular walk starts and ends in the town centre of Sedbergh and features the stunning Settlebeck Gill, where you’ll find perfect plunge pools for stone throwing and it’s secret waterfall. Easy to spot from afar, will you get up close?

Oh also…. park. There’s a play park and ice cream!

Tap here to head to our Sedbergh Secret Waterfall Walk

Hell Gill Force waterfall in Mallerstang

Hell Gill Force, Mallerstang

📍 Mallerstang, Yorkshire Dales National Park

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk 2-3 miles

🥾🎒🚘💦🌳🐶

This is a true adventurers walk! Mallerstang is one of the most remote parts of the Yorkshire Dales, but is simply stunning in its bleak beauty!

This walk takes you to the dramatically named Hell Gill, where you’ll find a super waterfall and a slot canyon too.

Tap here to head to our Hell Gill Force Waterfall Walk

Flintergill, Dent

📍 Dent, Cumbria, Western Yorkshire Dales National Park

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk 6 miles

🥾🎒🚘🚌🧒✨👻💦🌳🐶

This fab circular walk starts and ends in the village of Dent. The walk is PACKED full of cool stuff for the kids, it features a waterfall, a small farming museum, ruins, paddle spots, ice cream, a park AND a vampire stone! You’ll have to read more about that in the walk details!

Tap here to head to our Flintergill Walk

children standing looking down on railway viaduct in winter

Smardale Gill Viaduct

📍 Ravenstonedale, Yorkshire Dales National Park

⭐⭐⭐ Superstar Hikers

📏 Circular walk 5 miles

🥾🎒🚘💦🌳🐶 🛝🍻

This walk is for the history buffs out there! Before you even leave Ravenstonedale you will be hunting down the toilet in the ruins of an ancient monastery, then you will follow the old route of the railway passing abandoned railway buildings, some gargantuan lime kilns and obviously, the epic 90ft high Smardale Gill Viaduct, which has recently been restored.

If you fancy continuing a little further into the nature reserve, you may be lucky enough to spot some red squirrels too and if that’s not enough, the walk finishes at the park and there are two fantastically cosy family friendly pubs to choose from too!

Tap here to head to our Smardale Gill Viaduct Walk

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