Overview

Walking Holidays
5 - 6 Nights
52 miles / 84 km
  • Prices from: £595 per person
  • Start: Hawes, North Yorkshire
  • Finish: Hawes, North Yorkshire
  • Availability: Any start date from March to October
  • Grading: Easy to Moderate
  • Way-marked: No, but easy to follow

Herriot Way Highlights

James Herriot
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Follow in the footsteps James Herriot, the British veterinary surgeon and writer, and visit his favourite beauty spots.

Superb waterfalls
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Visit England’s highest single-drop waterfall, and the spectacular triple-drop waterfalls at Aysgarth.

Fine hospitality
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Enjoy the delightful hospitality of the Yorkshire Dales, in particular, Wensleydale and Swaledale.

Charming villages
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Explore picturesque and quaint Yorkshire villages such as Hawes, Askrigg, Thwaite and Keld.

Stunning scenery
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Enjoy the spectacular view of the Dales in almost every direction from the peak of Great Shunner Fell, the Yorkshire Dales’ third highest mountain.

Wensleydale Creamery
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Visit the home of the famous and delicious Wensleydale Cheese!

A Quintessential English Walking Route

The Herriot Way is a 52-mile long-distance route which passes through the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. The circular path features rolling hills, wildflower meadows, picturesque waterfalls and charming, welcoming villages. 

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The route is based on a walk taken by James Herriot, the pseudonym for Alf Wight, and his son. Alf was a British veterinary surgeon and a writer, and is best known for writing what later became the well-known TV series All Creatures Great and Small.

The 52 miles / 84 km Herriot Way explores some of  the world-famous literary vet’s favourite locations in Wensleydale and Swaledale, passing through famous waterfalls, charming villages and wonderful rolling scenery.

The route begins and ends in the small town of Hawes, best known for its production of Wensleydale Cheese. It meanders its way past Hardraw Force, England’s highest single-drop waterfall, before following the River Ure towards Aysgarth.

The Way takes you along old lead miners’ tracks, with breathtaking views of Swaledale. Strolling over heather moors, enjoying pretty hamlets and soaking up the Yorkshire Dales, this walk is gentle, straightforward and pleasing.

Herriot Way Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is HW1 which covers the route in 4 days / 5 nights. 

Travel to Hawes for your first night’s accommodation
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Arrive in the town of Hawes, the highest market town in England at 850 feet above sea level. Visit the Wensleydale Creamery on arrival and sample this famous and delicious cheese!

Day 1: Hawes to Keld (13 miles / 21 km)
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Your first day on the Herriot Way takes you up and over the third highest summit in the Yorkshire Dales, Great Shunner Fell. The ascent is straightforward and not steep, and on a clear day the views from the top are remarkable.

From Great Shunner Fell it’s downhill all the way to the charming village of Thwaite, where you may wish to find refreshments in one of its tearooms. From here, it is three miles to the small village of Keld, your destination for this evening.

Day 2: Keld to Reeth (13 miles / 21 km)
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This morning you will share the path with the Pennine Way and Wainwright’s Coast to Coast. Walk in the footsteps of the lead miners who used to work on these desolate moors. Take the high road and climb past the ruin of the eccentrically named Crackpot Hall, enjoying the surrounding views of Swaledale.

There is an alternative low-level route today but most walkers prefer the higher level option.

Day 3: Reeth to Aysgarth (13 miles / 21 km)
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Today takes another pleasant and undulating stroll through picturesque valleys, with an opportunity to visit the impressive ruin of Bolton Castle.

Day 4: Aysgarth to Hawes (13 miles / 21 km)
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Visit the spectacular triple-drop falls at Aysgarth, then follow the banks of the River Ure towards the delightful village of Askrigg. There are many stiles to be surmounted on this final day.

You then reach Hardraw Force, England’s highest single-drop waterfall at 98 feet. Access is available for a small fee to the Green Dragon Inn. The waterfall has been visited by many poets and notable figures over the years, as well as by Kevin Costner during the filming of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Your walk continues on the well-signposted Pennine Way until you return to where your walk started at Hawes.

Onward travel
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After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the Herriot Way.

What's Included?

Your Herriot Way walking holiday includes:

  • Carefully selected accommodation along the route and trail transfers when applicable
  • En-suite or private bathroom facilities whenever possible
  • Daily door-to-door baggage transfers
  • Comprehensive information pack, kit list, guidebook and map (one set per room)
  • Personalised itinerary with details of your accommodation, route and recommendations for lunch and dinner
  • Traditional English breakfast
  • 24-hour emergency contact number
  • Full financial protection

Your walking holiday doesn't include:

  • Travel insurance
  • Transport to and from the start and end of the walk
  • Lunches and evening meals

Itineraries & Prices

We offer 2 suggested itineraries for walking the Herriot Way.

Our most popular itinerary is HW1 which covers the route in 4 days. 

Tour code
Itinerary
Average miles infoAverage miles per day
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty
Price per person
HW1
4 Days / 5 Nights
13 miles per day
Moderate
From £595
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 13 miles per day
Tour code: HW1
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Moderate

4 Days / 5 Nights (HW1)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

Arrive Travel to Hawes for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Hawes to Keld 13 miles / 21 km
2
Day 2 Keld to Reeth 13 miles / 21 km
3
Day 3 Reeth to Aysgarth 13 miles / 21 km
4
Day 4 Aysgarth to Hawes 13 miles / 21km
Depart Onward travel from Hawes

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £975 per person

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed. 

Standard
Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels
From £595 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

HW2
5 Days / 6 Nights
10.5 miles per day
Easy
From £720
Average miles infoAverage miles per day 10.5 miles per day
Tour code: HW2
Difficulty infoLevel of difficulty Easy

5 Days / 6 Nights (HW2)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

Arrive Travel to Hawes for your first night's accommodation
1
Day 1 Hawes to Keld 13 miles / 21 km
2
Day 2 Keld to Reeth 13 miles / 21 km
3
Day 3 Reeth to Aysgarth 13 miles / 21 km
4
Day 4 Aysgarth to Askrigg 7 miles / 11km
5
Day 5 Askrigg to Hawes 6 miles / 9.5km
Depart Onward travel from Hawes

Prices

Premium
Best available Guest Houses, Inns & Hotels
From £1110 per person

Carefully selected guest houses, inns and hotels throughout your walk, which will be the best available in each location. As premium accommodation is in short supply on this trail, please note that some establishments will be of a higher standard than others. En-suite facilities or private bathroom guaranteed. 

Standard
Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels
From £720 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

Herriot Way Accommodation

All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.

We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.

 

Travel Information

As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.

Getting to and returning from Hawes
By Air

Nearest Airport: Manchester International Airport or Leeds/Bradford Airport

There is a train from Manchester Airport to Garsdale via Leeds (journey time 3 hours). There are also frequent bus services from Leeds/Bradford Airport to Leeds city centre, where you can connect with a train to Garsdale.

A local bus then runs between Garsdale Station and Hawes.

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Garsdale

The nearest train station to Hawes is Garsdale, which is on the main Leeds/Carlisle line.  A local bus service runs from Garsdale Station to Hawes four times a day.

National Express coaches also run to Leeds or Carlisle.

By Road

If you plan to travel by car it is sometimes possible to leave it at Hawes for the duration of your holiday. We can check this for you when your booking is confirmed.

 

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the Herriot Way.

You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.

Hawes
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  • Visit Hardraw Force, England’s highest single-drop waterfall
  • Take a tour of Wensleydale Creamery; see how this famous local cheese is made and best of all, sample some!
  • Explore the Dales Countryside Museum to find out more about life in the Yorkshire Dales
Keld
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  • Visit the four waterfalls – Kisdon Force, East Gill Force, Catrake Force and Wain Wath Force – at a nearby limestone gorge on the River Swale. These are particularly spectacular after a lot of rain!
Reeth
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  • Visit the Swaledale Museum to find out more about the areas you are walking through
  • Cross the swing bridge over the River Swale and enjoy some short local riverside walks
  • Take the bus to Richmond, a half hour away, and explore this popular North Yorkshire town with its Norman Castle and Georgian architecture

Make an enquiry

Herriot Way

Need something more tailored?
Contact us via email:
enquiries@absoluteescapes.com

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