Emily Cunningham
19 December 2024
Our compilation of the best Yorkshire Dales villages gives a flavour of what you can expect in this glorious part of the world. Rolling hills, magnificent crags and spectacular waterfalls are in abundance, as are cobbled streets and welcoming inns.
Each village and a couple of towns that we have thrown in for good measure, has a vibrant community proud of its heritage. You’ll discover incredible legends, traditions and folklore around every corner. There’s also mouthwatering local produce to try, and we have showcased some of the best places to sample the delicacies of the region in this handy guide.
Take a look at some of our favourite villages in Swaledale, Wensleydale, Malhamdale and more and make sure to browse our Yorkshire Dales cottages to find your perfect place to stay.
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Askrigg
There are lots of reasons to visit the charming village of Askrigg, but the top one must be to check out the location of the original series of All Creatures Great and Small. The cobbled streets and independent shops easily bring to mind the quaint setting of James Herriot’s fictional ‘Darrowby’. Once you’ve explored the village, amble along the banks of Askrigg Beck, a tributary of the River Ure that trickles alongside Leyburn Road.
Highlights
- Make sure to walk to Mill Gill Falls, a waterfall that flows over a series of ledges through verdant woodlands. Continue for a mile to discover Askrigg Waterfall.
- St Oswald’s Church is an imposing 15th-century church considered the best in Wensleydale.
- The Bake-Well is a highly rated deli, café and takeaway with a great selection of homemade goodies.
- Stay nearby: Laneside | sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Burnsall
Surrounded by a spectacular circle of fells, Burnsall is at the heart of the walking country. The bracing Dales Way footpath passes through the village on the 16-mile Ilkley to Grassington stretch. What Burnsall lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality, with just one adorable village shop, two cosy cafés and two historic pubs. It also lies on a bend of the River Wharfe with Loup Scar nearby which is a popular spot for wild swimming.
Highlights
- The Red Lion pub, dating from the 16th century, where you can enjoy a cracking home-cooked meal overlooking the village green or, in balmy weather, on the riverside terrace.
- 14th-century Burnsall Bridge is a much-photographed spot on the River Wharfe and an idyllic location for wild in the Yorkshire Dales spot.
- The Burnsall Classic is one of the oldest fell-running competitions, with people dashing the 1.5 miles to the top of Burnsall Fell and back for 500 years. If you’re not there on the day, try it yourself – the record time is under 13 minutes.
- Stay nearby: The Old Post Office – Burnsall | sleeps 8 + 2 dogs
Clapham
Below Ingleborough, one of the three peaks, sits Clapham, a thriving village with a great sense of community. This peaceful spot is the perfect base for countryside adventures with peaks, nature trails and caves all close by. Swing by the popular New Inn, a stunning 18th-century coaching house, to watch the world go by, before calling in at the Clapham Village Store to pick up a picnic and venturing off into the great outdoors.
Dent
While strictly in Cumbria, we have to include Dent in our round-up since it’s a key village in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With cobbled streets, traditional cottages and an ancient provenance that can be traced back to the Vikings, Dent transports you to a traditional way of life – discover more at the Dent Heritage Visitors Centre, where you can find out about the ‘Terrible Knitters of Dent’. The Dales Way runs the full length of the Dentdale Valley so you can enjoy a very scenic walk from the village.
Highlights
- The George & Dragon offers excellent local ales and a top-notch Sunday roast.
- Meadowside café and bar has a wonderful view of the hillside and offers a stonking brunch menu including doorstop butties.
- St Andrew's Church was first built in the 12th century, its bell tower overlooks the village.
- Stay nearby: Moorland View | sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Grassington
While it’s actually a market town, Grassington feels like a village as it’s so small and friendly. All Creatures Great and Small gets another mention in this blog, this time because Grassington is the location for the newest version of the feel-good Yorkshire series. If your visit coincides with the third Sunday of the month, head to the square for the Farmers’ Market – a great opportunity to stock up on local delicacies.
Highlights
- Get scrubbed up and visit Grassington House, an award-winning restaurant in an imposing stone building in the centre.
- Grassington Folk Museum has an impressive collection of artefacts relating to the town’s mining history.
- The Stripey Badger is a real gem of a bookshop and its café next door is a cosy spot to settle down and open your new novel.
- Stay nearby: Whisper Cottage – Grassington | sleeps 3 + 2 dogs
Horton-in-Ribblesdale
At the foot of the majestic Pen-y-Ghent (which is said to resemble the Sphinx), Horton-in-Ribblesdale is the traditional starting point for the three peaks challenge. It’s also on the Pennine Way, which makes it a popular spot for weary walkers to rest their feet. The Crown Hotel has superb views of the famous peak and has a log fire and riverside garden to enjoy, depending on the season.
Highlights
- The second of the village’s pubs, The Golden Lion, has a stone-flagged bar that welcomes muddy boots.
- The Settle to Carlisle Railway stops at Horton-in-Ribblesdale and is a great way to see the famous Ribblehead Viaduct.
- St Oswald’s Church is one of the most complete Norman churches in the Dales.
- Stay nearby: Lark Rise Cottage | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Ingleton
The incredible landscape around Ingleton makes this village a geographical marvel and a must-visit village in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There are breathtaking gorges, underground rivers and of course waterfalls aplenty. The best way to see them is via the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, which is open year-round.
Highlights
- Watch the potters at work at Ingleton Pottery or have a go at throwing a pot yourself at one of the workshops.
- For a bracing dip whatever the season, try the Ingleton Swimming Pool, one of the best lidos in England.
- White Scar Cave is a mile-long subterranean walk with fabulously-named limestone formations such as The Witch’s Fingers and The Devil’s Tongue.
- Stay nearby: Highfield House – Ingleton | sleeps 5 + 2 dogs
Kettlewell
Despite its diminutive size, the Wharfedale village of Kettlewell boasts three inviting pubs because it was once a bustling hub for the local industries of mining and textiles. Once a thriving market back in the 13th century, nowadays there is a gentler pace of life here, with most visitors calling by before setting their sights on scaling nearby Buckden Pike. Kettlewell was also the setting for the film Calendar Girls when it was transformed into the village of Knapley.
Highlights
- The annual Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival takes place in August – if you’re here then take the trail to see the community’s best efforts.
- &then... Tasting Deli is the fabulous combination of a delicatessen and café, serving locally made pies and charcuterie.
- Kettlewell Village Store is a veritable treasure trove, stocking craft kits, gifts and cards as well as the usual staples.
- Stay nearby: Old Hall | sleeps 8 + 2 dogs
Malham
This picture-perfect spot has been a settlement for a thousand years and an established village since the 17th century. The glories of Malham are not only in the surrounding dramatic landscape which includes Malham Cove and Gordale Scar but also in the village itself, where you’ll find an assortment of tempting cafés and pubs, as well as England’s first 100% plant-based hotel, Beck Hall.
Highlights
- Within easy walking distance is the enchanting Janet’s Foss Waterfall, where legend says the queen of the fairies lived.
- Visit Malham Smithy, where resident blacksmith Annabel Bradley hand-forges sculptural and functional wrought ironwork.
- The Lister Arms is an ivy-clad coaching house on the village green, perfect for watching the world go by.
- Stay nearby: Town End Farm – Cove View | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Masham
Masham (pronounced Mass’em) is a highly creative corner of the Dales, with no less than six art galleries, plus ceramicists, glassmakers and photographers all jockeying for a spot in the limelight. The historic Georgian marketplace is the locus for a buzzy mix of independent shops and cafés once you’ve had your fill of aesthetics. There are also two breweries in Masham, Theakstons and Black Sheep, which you can tour before supping on some classic Yorkshire ale.
Highlights
- Masham Town Hall has an ever-changing programme of live music, comedy and films.
- Uredale Glass offers affordable pieces and you can also try your hand at blowing your own creation.
- The community space ArtisOn offers creative workshops on everything from bookbinding to willow weaving.
- Stay nearby: Claro | sleeps 2
Middleton-in-Teesdale
Although not strictly in Yorkshire, Teesdale was historically the most northern of the North Yorkshire Dales villages, marking the border between North Riding and County Durham. The village of Middleton-in-Teesdale still has a strong sense of history, with disused mines signalling a bygone industry. The handsome market town of Barnard Castle is located nearby with a medieval castle that’s well worth visiting.
Muker
With a population of just 100 people, Muker (pronounced Mooker) is one of the smallest and prettiest Swaledale villages. It is on not one but two walking paths – the Pennine Way and Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, so you wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that there’s some glorious rambling country here. Muker Hay Meadows has an abundance of wildflowers during the summer – find the meadows between the village and the River Swale.
Highlights
- The Farmers Arms is the essence of a country pub, with a drystone fireplace and handsome flagstone floors.
- The annual Muker Agricultural Show takes place each September and is a charming snapshot of rural life that’s well worth visiting if you’re in the area.
- The grand-sounding Muker Literary Institute was originally built to supply the community with opportunities for self-education (in practice this meant a daily newspaper and a shelf of books), but now has a small exhibition of photographs and artefacts.
- Stay nearby: Bramble Bottom | sleeps 10 + 2 dogs
Reeth
Reeth is one of the larger Swaledale villages, which historically made it the go-to destination for the surrounding population. It ticks all the boxes – manicured village green with panoramic views, cosy pubs, adorable post office, and stepping stones on the River Swale where you can enjoy paddling in the summer. It also marks the starting point for The Swale Trail, a family-friendly mountain biking route.
Highlights
- If you fancy having a go at mountain biking, head to Dales Bike Centre where you can hire all the gear and carb-load on delicious cakes in the café.
- The Swaledale Museum presents the history of the region innovatively and engagingly – hear a recording of the local accent and try on a pair of pockets.
- Whether it’s in a cone or a bowl, you won’t be able to resist the ice creams at Reeth Ice Cream Parlour, which offers 16 flavours of locally made heaven.
- Stay nearby: Frog House | sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
West Burton
Even though it’s arguably one of the prettiest Yorkshire Dales villages, West Burton is still a peaceful location unspoilt by tourists. The heather-patched landscape interwoven with drystone walls frames a large village green marked by an impressive stone obelisk. West Burton is popular with walkers and was a favourite spot of artist J.M.W. Turner who was inspired to sketch the nearby West Burton Falls.
West Witton
The Guy Fawkes-style tradition of The Burning of Old Bartle is what West Witton is known for. But this curious annual tradition aside, there’s still lots going for this corner of Wensleydale which is the best place to start a walk up Penhill, a prominent Yorkshire Dales peak. One of the oldest buildings in the village is The Fox and Hounds, known locally as The Fox and a great place to sample some ales from the Yorkshire Dales Brewery.
Highlights
- The Wensleydale Heifer is a wonderful restaurant in the centre of the village with an informal dog-friendly dining area where you can enjoy locally sourced seafood and steak.
- The Knights’ Preceptory is the ruins of the Knights Templar monastery – an atmospheric spot at the base of Penhill.
- Uncovering the history of St Bartholomew’s Church where An 8th-century Saxon cross sculpture is on display above the pulpit.
- Stay nearby: The Old Reading Room | sleeps 4
Map of Yorkshire Dales villages
Find all the best and prettiest Yorkshire Dales villages with this handy map:
Places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales
With hundreds of period properties dotted around the Yorkshire Dales, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to where to call home. Will it be a romantic retreat in the idyllic village of Masham or a dog-friendly farmhouse in glorious Grassingham?
Take a look at our holiday cottages in Wensleydale, Swaledale, Malhamdale and Wharfedale to find the perfect place to stay for your next Yorkshire holiday.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.