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Dog Walks in North Yorkshire: A Right Yorkshire Ramble

North Yorkshire, a haven of rolling hills, ancient woods, and scenic valleys, is perfect for dog owners craving adventure. Follow India and her dog on breathtaking dog walks in North Yorkshire, where each path has a tale and every sniff reveals a surprise.


‘Gods own county’

This years summer holiday was to ‘Gods own county’, Yorkshire. I have some advantage of knowing where to go and what to do here as this is where I grew up, and one of the main reasons I love the outdoors as much as I do. From the spectacular coastline to mountains and moorland, Yorkshire has something for everyone, especially if you love nature.

This summer we (Duncan, Johnson and myself) stayed in North Yorkshire between Beamsley and Nesfield. Prime cycling country, which I took advantage off later in the holiday. With so much space for Johnson and even a river for swimming (who said border collies won’t swim?!) we love to make sure our holidays are as much fun for him as they are for us. (Yes, I’m one of THOSE dog owners).

After about a 2 and a half-hour drive, we got to the cottage late afternoon and met my Grandma. I helped her with her horses she keeps nearby and we had a good cup of tea and biscuits. That evening we discovered the poshest supermarket known to man – Booths.

I have a feeling this is just a posh northern supermarket as I have never seen one anywhere else. Think Waitrose, but even more expensive. However, they did the most wonderful pre-made puddings, and if you ever go to one, you MUST buy the banoffee pie and lemon tart. (a quick google shows they are mainly in Lancashire – probably why I have never seen one, as I’m from Yorkshire……)

Anyway you’re probably wondering what I got up to on my holiday! Plenty of walking. Here’s a roundup of my favourite dog walks in North Yorkshire.

Brimham Rocks

The second day we took a trip to Brimham Rocks with my family (AND MURPHY), a place I had never been before. After parking in the ridiculously expensive car park (it is a national trust landscape), we walked up the road to discover a truly alien landscape. The towering rocks (with individual names which are fun to guess!) made of milstone grit were such odd formations sculpted by wind, rain and glaciers. I couldn’t believe I had never been here before; it was absolutely stunning. Super dog friendly (most national trust places are not), with a good walk around the rocks and the moorland surrounding them. A nature and photography lovers dream.

Bolton Abbey To Malham

The third day, I left Duncan and Johnson to enjoy some time to themselves and decided to do a cycle put on by Yorkshire Velo Tours – an organised ride with a support van. We met in Ilkley and cycled through Bolton Abbey to Malham. Going up and over Malham Cove was one of the most fun but tough climbs I have done in years. The ‘If you don’t climb the mountain you can’t see the view’ quote came to mind throughout this ride, and the views were something else. The undulating moorland interspersed with mountains (yes official mountains!), makes for a dramatic landscape, and nothing is better than fighting up a climb to drink in this beautiful scenery.

After Malham we cycled to Settle and had lunch (jacket potato beans and cheeses) in Feizor – a little village way off the beaten track. After lunch we headed back around and down to Ilkley through to Halton Gill taking in views of Pen-Y-Ghent. The descents were a mixture of fast and steep and fast and undulating and fast (can you tell there isn’t much descending practice where I live?!), and I found myself laughing out loud at how fun some of them were. Despite being by far the slowest downhill (I’m a bit of a nervous nelly when it come to bike control and descending), I had enormous fun, and was kept company by the wonderful ride leader, Charles. As I trundled through the last few of the 78 miles (my legs had given up a little) I thought about how thankful I am that I can do things like this. Exercise really is a privilege.

Bolton Abbey

The next day we did the usual trip to Bolton Abbey we do when we stay nearby. If you are on the correct side of the River Wharfe then do follow the Dales way down and into Bolton Abbey. If you are driving, parking is £10 a car. Bolton Abbey itself is free to enter and you can go right up into the Abbey, which is one of the first things you see.

The area around the abbey is a nature-geeks paradise, including a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ (SSSI) it is home to rare plants and animals, with the welfare of nature at heart. Unfortunately, this does mean that dogs need to be kept on a lead through Strid Wood (but also for health and safety, as notoriously ‘The Strid’ has claimed lives in the past, so you don’t want your dog accidentally falling in).   It’s a magnificent place and very well looked after, and does have some areas you can let your dog off – Johnson loves playing fetch into the river near the stepping stones which are opposite the Abbey! If you’re brave enough, definitely give these a go.

One thing to note is that the area around Bolton Abbey is not so dog friendly, as we wanted to go up Simons Seat and to The valley of Desolation – two famous landmarks, but they don’t allow dogs across that part of the land, which was very disappointing.  If you’re looking for a TRULY dog friendly day out, then this might not be for you, but I do enjoy it whenever I go with my pooch.

Malham Cove

On the last full day (after a wonderful early lunch with my Grandparents), we headed to my childhood favourite – Malham Cove. This is the area where I fell in love with nature and the outdoors as a child, and returning as an adult it isn’t hard to see why. The dramatic landscape created by glaciers has been weather-worn to create the spectacular cove, limestone pavements as well as Gordale Scar (as cool as it sounds) and Janets Foss (a beautiful waterfall and woodland area) further down the circular walk.

You can walk right up to the Cove, and there we saw people rock climbing the immense cliff! I also know that underneath the cove is a series of intricate caves where you can go pot-holing (always go under supervision – you can’t get into them without the key to the grill covering the entrance anyway). We took the classic walk, which takes you up and over the cove, and down to Janets Foss, where you can also visit Gordale Scar.

You can’t let your dog off on the cove as there are lots of sheep (I would also be worried about the health and safety aspect of a dog lose on the cove as it’s so uneven with no fence to stop them falling off the edge). 

It feels a lot more dog friendly than Bolton Abbey though, and coming back into Malham after Janets Foss, I found the fields had no livestock in so Johnson could have a good run around. After reaching the summit of the cove, with me lecturing poor Duncan on ‘clints and grykes’ and the geology of the landscape we headed down to Janets Foss, which is aptly named after the Queen of the Fairies – it does feel magical.

We then followed the path back into Malham through meadows kept specially for making hay, and decided to try and walk across the fjord back to the car park (only about £4 for the day) – Duncan and Johnson successfully dry, me not so successful….. (although I have neglected to mention that it absolutely chucked it down pretty much the whole day, so it didn’t make too much difference……)

Other Walks We Enjoy In North Yorkshire

Here are some of our other favourite spots to explore in North Yorkshire.

Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay

If you love the sea as much as I do, the cliff-top walk from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay is an absolute gem.

The Yorkshire Three Peaks

Fancy a bit of a challenge? Try the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. Tackling all three in one go might be a bit much for a dog, but each peak on its own provides a great adventure.

Sutton Bank: The Finest View in England

Sutton Bank, is well known as “the finest view in England” – it is an absolute must-see. Gorgeous views of the Vale of York and the Yorkshire Dales.

Richmond and the Swale Waterfalls

Richmond, you’ll find some great sights including Norman castle and riverside paths. Follow the River Swale and you’ll come across a series of lovely waterfalls.

Howardian Hills

Between the North York Moors and the Vale of York, the Howardian Hills are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rolling countryside, dotted with historic estates and peaceful woodlands, is perfect for dog walkers.

Baildon Moor

If you’re drawn to the wild, Baildon Moor is calling your name. This stretch of moorland offers spectacular views and a sense of freedom that’s hard to match.

More Adventure in North Yorkshire

While you’re out and about, it’s important to respect the natural habitat. Keep your dog under control, especially around livestock, and always follow the Countryside Code. But most importantly, enjoy the joy of discovering the great outdoors with your faithful companion by your side.

As always, Yorkshire – it’s ‘see you later’ not ‘goodbye’.

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