Route Updates

Changes can take place over limited stretches of the Dales Way due to local conditions or improvements to the route. It can take many years for these to appear in all guide books and on maps.

Bradford to Ilkley Link

Ilkley Old Bridge

Recent changes to the roads have made a change desirable when joining the route from Shipley station. Starting from the main station buildings (ticket office etc by platform 3) head down the cobbled approach road and under the railway line for Skipton. (This point can be gained by a short cut from platform 1). At the main road follow the footpath to the left. Cross by the pedestrian crossing to The Bull, pass in front of it and the next building and take the footpath along the side of it. Cross the canal bridge and drop to the towpath. Turn west and you will join the Link Route after passing under the first road bridge.

Addingham to Bolton Bridge

Up Wharfe to Bolton Abbey

One of the worst sections on the original official route of the Dales Way was the stretch along the dangerous B6160 between Addingham and Bolton Bridge. A new section of the route has been created to avoid the majority of this road walking. This follows a line through the fields parallel to the wall along the road side. This has been made possible by the goodwill of the Bolton Abbey Estate and North Yorkshire County Council in creating the right of way and permissive path that were needed. Dales Way sign posts and waymarks are now in place. Coming along the river from Addingham, on reaching the road one can now go almost directly across and pass through a new kissing-gate into the grounds of the Friends Meeting House. Walkers are very welcome to make a stop here. A gravel path leads round the building to join the drive to Lobwood House.

Bolton Priory

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Exit from Grassington

Down Wharfe at Linton Falls

A diversion has been made by the Yorkshire Dales National Park where the Dales Way leaves Grassington and heads north. This is to avoid having to pass through the busy farmyard of Town Head Farm. The new route leaves Chapel Street before reaching the farm, turning right up the existing right of way up Bank Lane. This is followed round to the left and on until the right of way makes a sharp right turn. A new path has been constructed from here across fields in a westerly direction to rejoin the present route of the Dales Way well to the north of the farm. The present line of the route from the farm to this point has been closed. The National Park has clearly signed and waymarked this significant diversion.

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Cam Houses

Cam Houses

The route through the forestry above Cam Houses has been illegally blocked for many years now and a very muddy unofficial line has come into being round the edge of the trees. The National Park have now carried out some work to rectify this, and the proper line cutting diagonally upwards through the top corner of the trees has been waymarked. This is mainly just by paint marks on trees,and when last inspected, following the correct line does need some care.

Dentdale

River Lune & Howgills from above Lincoln's Inn Bridge

Only a year or two back the route of the Dales Way was revised downstream from Dent in order to avoid the road walking between Ellers Bridge and Rash. However since that time a completely new footbridge has been constructed at Brackensgill, where there was previously only a deep ford. The official route of the Dales Way has now been changed to make use of this. So do not cross Ellers Bridge, but continue along the lane down the SW side of the dale until the bridleway leading to Brackensgill Bridge can be followed down to the river. Short stretches of footpath have been created to give access to the bridge. Continuing, the main valley road is crossed almost directly to climb on another bridleway up the other side of the dale and, after a left fork, one duly joins the contouring track to rejoin the original route above Rash. This route is very clearly shown on the Explorer (Outdoor Leisure) map. It should be noted that this is now the official and recommended route, but the original route and the diversion from Ellers Bridge are on rights of way and can still be used if preferred.

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West Coast Railway

Black Moss Tarn & to Howgills

Heading west after crossing the M6, the original route of the Dales Way crossed the railway by a foot crossing. With the upgrading of the line this has become very dangerous, and rather than construct an unsightly footbridge, the route has been closed. Heading west, the new route now follows along the lane from Hardrigg and around a right turn as before. Where the old route turned left through a gate into a field and made its way down to the railway, the diversion now commences. Instead of cutting down across the field, one turns right immediately after the gate and follows a newly created path along the field edge parallel to the lane. On reaching the railway, it rejoins the lane to cross the road bridge. Immediately on the north side of the bridge a new path has been created running west along the railway boundary to rejoin the original route on the north side of the closed level crossing. ( Look carefully for the point where one turns away from the railway towards Greenhead ). This new route has been waymarked and new stiles erected as needed.

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Staveley

A diversion has taken place, which affects the route of the Dales Way at Staveley. This may not yet be noted in some guidebooks. On approaching Staveley from the Burneside direction, the route no longer follows the walled track all the way to Sandy Hill Farm but bears left up to the road. This is well signed and waymarked.

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Cleabarrow

At Cleabarrow, on the final approach to Bowness, a short section of the B5284 is now avoided by a new path behind the wall on the east side of the road.