About Buckden, the Dales and Yorkshire

Walking and cycling in the Dales

Dales Way at Buckden (Picture by Gordon Nowell)

If it’s walking you’ve come for, Upper Wharfedale offers both gentle and challenging walks right from the doorstep of West Winds. Climb Buckden Pike (our local ‘mountain’ at 2302 feet), walk ‘over the top’ into Littondale, trek up remote Langstrothdale or wander down the riverside path to Starbotton, Kettlewell or beyond, catching the bus back. Curiously, you’ll find that pubs quite often spring up around lunchtime...

...Sheep drovers...

One of our own favourite walks is the ‘Three Pubs Triangle’. It’s a leisurely 4-6 mile circuit that starts in Buckden, goes up the Raikes track to Cray following in the footsteps of mediaeval sheep drovers, runs across a limestone plateau that offers lengthy views down Wharfedale, takes in the ancient church at Hubberholme, resting place of JB Priestley, and returns to Buckden along the riverside path offering a chance to see kingfishers and dippers. And yes, there are three fine pubs to visit on the way. It’s perfect for a summer evening!

The Dales Way, the Lady Anne Clifford Way, the Inn Way and Wainwright's Pennine Journey all pass through Buckden. Indeed, West Winds is ideally placed as a stopping point on these long-distance routes. Many of the walkers who stay with us have their luggage transported by one of the specialist courier companies like Sherpa or Brigantes.

...Classic routes...

OS Map of Buckden

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

There are many good guide books to walking in the Dales available and we can point you in the direction of classic local routes. You can fully plan your day from our Ordnance Survey Landranger wall map, centred on Buckden, before you leave the front door.

If you’re cycling, then you’ll know it’s hilly country and there are some exhilarating routes to try, for example down to Kettlewell and then over into Coverdale (if you don’t mind the 1 in 4 gradient!); or up Langstrothdale, over the Fleet Moss pass and down into the market town of Hawes, the ‘capital’ of Upper Wensleydale. West Winds is also just a short detour from the Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way.

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