This charming walk runs for 80 miles (128 km) from Ilkley in the
Yorkshire Dales to Bowness in the Lake District. The route heads north
through Wharfedale, crisscrossing the river, and rises over high
moorland to join the River Dee through Dentdale. It joins River Lune
briefly before heading west to Bowness on Lake Windermere.
Our 2026
edition features many route updates, including full details on the
Watershed Alternatives. It includes newly commissioned mapping at
1:40,000 for both main Way and Watershed Alternatives.
Along the
Way, you’ll see impressive railway viaducts and fine stone bridges;
Bolton Priory and many small churches; limestone scenery with stone
walls, hay meadows and lime kilns; and heritage sites to visit. Above
all, the route is blessed with many small villages with B&Bs and
welcoming pubs at strategic intervals. Gradients are modest and most
people will complete it comfortably in 6 to 8 days.
This new, much-improved edition is visually rich, with 140 colour photos and mapping on 19 of its 88 pages.
