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Over the years, walkers have asked dozens of questions of the author – this page seeks to answer many of the most common ones. If you don’t see an answer to your question below, you can ask the author directly using the comment form at the bottom of this page.
The Herriot Way is a circular walk, so you could walk it in either direction. However, the guide book describes the walk in a clockwise direction, following the path of the original walk by James Herriot. This is also the direction supported by the walking holiday providers and baggage transfer services.
So few people walked the anti-clockwise route that it became impractical to continue supporting it. Rather than continue to provide route notes and maps that have not been updated for several years, the decision has been made to drop support for an anti-clockwise guide.
If the weather is fine use the traditional high route through Swinner Gill and lead mining remains above Gunnerside. In bad weather you may want to use the low route, beside the Swale. You could do both of course, making for a 5-day walk, and the book has instructions on how you can extend your walk to accomplish this.
Lower Force at Aysgarth falls
Old mining equipment in the spoil heaps above Gunnerside
There is something to delight all walkers on the Herriot Way. If you love walking beside rivers there is the wonderful section beside the River Ure in Wensleydale. If high remote hills are your idea of heaven then the ascent of Great Shunner Fell will be your highlight. Lovers of grouse-filled, heather moorland will revel in the crossing of Melbecks and Harkerside Moors.
The diversity of the scenery encountered along the relatively short 52 miles of the Herriot Way are what set it apart from the other long walks in the UK. The feeling of remoteness while still being within easy reach of civilisation every day and the mix of easy strolling through the dales and the strenuous ascent of Great Shunner Fell make it a perfect candidate for your first long distance walk.
Walkers will visit a diverse array of remains from the Lead Mining industry that was prevalent through this area of the Dales for many years. Subtle information boards provide an insight into how hundreds of miners lived and worked in this desolate environment, changing and shaping it forever.
The Herriot Way is the perfect walk for a first-time long distance walker, or for an experienced walker looking for a leg-stretcher. The 52 miles are broken into four approximately equal 13 mile days, each one ending in villages with plentiful local amenities.
Accommodation is plentiful at the end of each of the 13 mile sections and some days have villages perfectly positioned for a pub lunch. The route could be wild-camped or make use of camp sites along the way. Some sections are supported by local bus services but the nearest train station is about 8 miles from the route, so getting to the start by public transport requires planning, which is aided by the planning section of the guide book.
Heavy snowfall in Wensleydale
These questions, and many more, are discussed in the “Walking the Herriot Way” guide book. You can order a copy of this pocket-sized paperback, using the [Buy me] button below.
If you don’t see the answer to your question above, or in the dozens of comments below, then please feel free to ask it. All questions will get a response and even if you’re completely new to multi-day walks, there’s no such thing as a silly question, so please ask away!
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Stuart W. Greig
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161 responses
Lieber Stuart,
Ich bin dieses Jahr den James herriot way gewandert. Ich bin begeistert.
Gebucht hatte ich das komplett Angebot vom Butt house keld. Es war wunderschön und wie nach Hause kommen. Da ich aus Deutschland komme und vor Ort kein PKW zur Verfügung habe würde ich gerne wissen ob es noch so einen ähnlichen Weg gibt. Auch als Standortwanderungen. Oder B&B mit ähnlichen Angeboten?
Google Translate:
Dear Stuart,
I hiked the James Herriot Way this year. I loved it.
I booked the complete package from Butt House Keld. It was beautiful and like coming home. As I come from Germany and don’t have a car available locally, I would like to know if there is another similar route. Also as a local hike. Or B&B with similar offers?
Google Translate:
Hallo Judith, ich habe drei weitere Reiseführer für Wanderrouten in den Yorkshire Dales: The Eden Way, Swale Way und Yoredale Way – Informationen zu all diesen Wanderungen finden Sie auf der PocketRoutes-Website. Die einfachste Wanderung ohne Auto ist der Eden Way, der problemlos mit der Bahnlinie Settle-Carlisle zurückgelegt werden kann.
Hi Judith – I have three other guide books for walking routes in the Yorkshire Dales: The Eden Way, Swale Way and Yoredale Way – you can find information about all these walks from the PocketRoutes website. The easiest walk to complete without using a car, is the Eden Way, which can easily be completed using the Settle-Carlisle railway line.
Thank you
Hi,
I’m planning on walking this in 4 days the plan is to drive to the start of the leg for each day, is it easy to get transportation back to the town where we would have parked? Are taxi’s available?
Hi, this isn’t possible. There is no public transport connecting the start and end points on two of the stages. The book has information on parking and local taxi services.
Thanks is there a digital version of the book for purchase?
Not to worry got it
Hi Stuart
I am planning to do HW this September with a friend. I just wanted to check the terrain on the climbs/descents. I’m used to the Dales in many ways but wanted to check if there were any parts that were particularly steep or rocky (trying to avoid bum shuffling). Thank you
Hi Sharon – there are one or two steep sections on the walk, but nothing so severe it would require what you fear!
Hi Stuart, My wife and I have just completed the Herriot Way. It was our third time doing this wonderful walk. We stayed at the Butt House for 5 nights. Could I just bring a slight problem to your attention? Having done the HW twice before, both times taking the high route between Keld and Reeth, this time we thought we would try the lower route. Having left Gunnerside we followed your instructions and made our way to Rowleth Wood. Upon entering the wood we were immediately confronted with an absolute forest of shoulder high ferns which we had to battle through the entire way. Added to this the mud and slippery rocks underfoot and the infestation of flies, all created by the atrocious wet weather of recent months. By the time we got to the end of the wood we were soaked to the skin. Jacqui from the Butt House told us that evening that she has had many complaints about this section of woods from her clients. At the moment, Rowleth Wood bears no resemblance to the “Charming managed woodland” described in your book. Perhaps you could put a message on your website warning future Herriot Wayers about the impossible conditions there. There is a short alternative just a little north of the Woods on the bridleway along Barf Side and then descending to Smarber to rejoin the route there. Please take this message in the spirit is has been given, I merely want to save others walkers the awful experience my wife and I had. Jacqui from Butt House says she will also contact you on this matter. Thanks.
Peter, thanks for the feedback on Rowleth Wood – your experience and feelings match my own after a recent visit. I fell twice on hidden roots and the second time I hit my shin on a rock and put a nasty gash in it. I used my first aid kit for only about the fourth time in 20 years and vowed to add a note in the next edition of the guide book. I’d already added a note in the latest (5th) edition about the dubious quality of the path through the woods, but I may need to go a step further for the 6th edition and add an alternative too. Thanks, Stuart
Where does one relieve oneself (US lingo: go to the bathroom), along the long walks with such wide open spaces?
This is obviously easier from a male perspective, but I would say a) you’ll rarely be in sight of other people and b) you’re never far from a dry-stone wall in the Dales. The book also identifies a couple of buildings (outside the villages) which include facilities.
Hi Stuart, Looking forward to walking the HW later this month using the Butt House package. Weather permitting, the plan is to walk the higher route from Keld to Reeth but would like to walk the low route as an extra. Does the route go through all the hay meadows which I believe are just north of Muker or would it be better to do a circular walk from Keld to Muker and return?
The low route includes some of the hay meadows outside Muker, after you’ve crossed Rampsholme Bridge, and then more meadows as you approach Gunnerside. I was there last weekend and they already look splendid!
Hello Stuart. I’ve enjoyed your book and look forward to walking in September. We have hired Brigantes to transport our luggage so will only be carrying day packs. My wife and I are in our 50s and have run ultramarathons. My question is whether you think we should bring hiking poles? We have never used them and if they are desirable I would have to purchase somewhere in England as they cannot be carried onboard aircraft. Thanks.
Alex, if you haven’t felt the need for walking poles on previous walks, I wouldn’t consider them for the Herriot Way.
Hi, Alex – I’m curious why you say that hiking poles are not permitted on aircraft. We were planning on packing ours in our checked baggage, not carry-on. I will also check this with the airlines. W have never taken them on a plane before, so I would like to verify.
You can take them on an aircraft! I have done multiple long-distance trails in Africa, Asia and Europe and always packed my poles in my checked luggage. Not really needed for hill country but very useful on mountains and for anyone with weaker knees to take the strain off.
Hi Stuart hope you are well.
I doing Harriot Way and woundered if there is any parking in any villages that you walk through on the route, as trying to do it in 2 days but I guess there is street free parking. As I don’t know yet where I want to start. I know it doesn’t matter to much as its a circular route or is this something you don’t say as disturbed residents / locals?
Thanks
Ben
Ben, the best place to park for a couple of days is Reeth, where you can park around and on the village green for a small fee paid into the honesty boxes. It’s also a good place to start and finish thanks to the various shops, pubs and tea-rooms. Good luck with your walk!
What’s the best way to get from London to the start of the walk in Aysgarth ? Thanks.
Using public transport? London to Northallerton train, Northallerton to Aysgarth on the bus – just don’t try on a Sunday!
Absolutely lovely! We are in Aysgarth for 3 nights, and without transport though happy to take the bus or whatever we can. Can you suggest what we can do or see in this time? We are going in early July. Many thanks. Barry.
Bus service 156 – the Wensleydale Voyager runs from Hawes to Aysgarth and onwards to Castle Bolton and Leyburn, so you could walk to Hawes along the Herriot Way and then catch the bus back to Aysgarth. There are also circular walk options from Aysgarth to Castle Bolton, using Redmire and Carperby. You could also follow one of my other books, the Yoredale Way, from Aysgarth, alongside the River Ure as far as Wensley and then catch the bus back to Aysgarth. You aren’t short of options and the OS OL30 map should provide lots of detail on the local footpath network. Enjoy Wensleydale!
We are aiming to do this route all in one day. Has this been done before? Any advice if so?
Hi Jo, I’m not aware of anyone doing it in a single walk before, I wish you the best of luck! 50+ miles is certainly achievable if you’re used to walking that sort of distance and many of the LDWA challenge walks are longer than this. If I had any advice, it would be to time your start to take advantage of the opening times of facilities in the villages along the way – in particular Hawes which will have almost everything you need, including a pharmacy!
Let me know how you get on – if you want to write a guest blog post of your journey I’d certainly be happy to post it on the site.
Good luck, Stuart.
Is there an especially picturesque section of the Herriot Way that can be visited in a circular or out and back manner, 5-6 miles, or so?
I would recommend the walk from Gunnerside village, up Gunnerside Gill to the footbridge at Blakethwaite Mill and return. You can walk up the east side of the river and return by the west side
Greetings! My friend and I are doing the walk in early October. We plan to take our time, and would like to extend the walk to 5 days. We also plan to wild camp at least a few nights while we’re on the route. Do you have any suggestions in regards to sections of the walk we might want to spend more time on? We’re a couple of nature lovers, so the less populated/settled areas are more appealing. Also, if we’re camping 2-3 nights, are there any particular stretches that you can recommend? I have your wonderful book, so I’ll be referring to that along the way. Thanks!
Hello Stuart…
In the route description in your book there are light grey Capitol letters with numbers in parentheses. (SD 88950 98357).
What does this refer to? Anything to do with the Ordnance Survey map?
We leave for our trip on May 15th.
Thank you for you assistance.
Laurie
Hi Laurie, correct, these are the OS grid references for the point on the track the route note relates to.
Hello! My friend and I will be travelling from Canada to do the Herriot Way in early October.
We are arriving by train to Garsdale. Is there a bus service we can use to get from Garsdale to Aysgarth? It will be a Saturday. Thanks in advance!
Hi Debbie, there is no direct service from Garsdale station to Aysgarth. You will need two buses, one from Garsdale station to Hawes and then another from Hawes to Aysgarth.
The Dales Bus website has a PDF you can download with all the local services: https://www.dalesbus.org/uploads/1/1/3/9/113919127/dalesbus.pdf
The alternative is a taxi. There are details of a local taxi in the book.
I purchased your book on Amazon and I am enjoying looking through it. We are planning a trip for July/August 2024. A few questions: What is the best solution for lunch? Do inns generally have packed lunches available for purchase? or are there local places to pick up lunch each morning? Also, do you suggest adding a day at the end of the trip (or during any part) to see local sights? Since we are traveling all the way from Massachusetts, we would love to make the most of our trip! We are excited to plan! Thanks!
Hi Edie, most B&Bs will offer a packed lunch service, but probably worth checking in advance. Day 1 (Aysgarth to Hawes) sees you arrive in Askrigg just before lunch, where there’s a bakery and a shop. Hawes has a Spar (small supermarket) where you can buy provisions for Day 2 lunch. There’s no shop in Keld so if your B&B don’t do a packed lunch for Day 3, you may need to carry provisions from Hawes. Reeth has a couple of shops where you can buy items for Day 4 lunch.
Another option is to check if Butt House B&B have any Herriot Way packages left for this year – you can stay with them for 5 days, get transported to the start and end of each day’s walk and they will provide packed lunches each day if you need it…. see here: http://www.butthousekeld.co.uk/herriot-way/
I would always recommend at least one day before or after the walk to explore the area, especially if you’re a James Herriot fan.
Hi Stuart, the walk sounds fantastic and the book is great. However, one of our party suffers a little from vertigo. Are there any sections with very steep drops where it’s not possible to walk away from the edge please?
Hi Katy, there are no exposed edges to walk along, although there are a couple of steep descents down into little valleys. Hope you all have a great walk!
The high route between Keld and Reeth might be challenging to someone not liking drop offs. Would suggest the lower route in that case.
Hi, I’m based in the US and can’t place an order through the website, am I doing something wrong?
Hi James, the website only ships to the UK I’m afraid, but you can order any of my books from your local Amazon store – this will end up being cheaper and delivery will be quicker. The US listing is here:
https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Herriot-Way-Stuart-Greig/dp/B0BGSK5PS4
Hey Stuart. I’m curious if one could bike the Herriot Way? We would love to walk the whole trail but we only have one day available.
Hi Teressa, you could certainly cycle parts of the Herriot Way, but many of the stretches of the walk are on footpaths, not bridleways. You’d end up having to find diversions around these sections. As a part-time cyclist myself I also find the road through Wensleydale to be quite daunting as it’s narrow in places and it can get very busy.
Hello, I just watched a PBS show called the Herriot’s Way. I live in Massachusetts, USA. I am 65 and my wife is 62. We have hiked a lot over the years in Acadia National Park. Last summer I complete the 26 & 30 Peak Challenge. It took me many years to accomplish this goal as we would only hike during our annual week’s vacation there. OK, my question…. Is there an “all inclusive package” that a tour company has there, that coordinates all the travel and accommodations for the 4 day hike?
Hi John
Firstly there’s a fantastic service provided by Jacqui and Chris at Butt House B&B in Keld. One of the most scenic little villages anywhere in the Dales and one of the friendliest couple you could hope to stay with. They offer a 5-night, 4-day accommodation package where you get transported to the start of each day’s walk and collected from the end. You stay in Butt House B&B each night and walk the route each day. Unfortunately, they have a limited number of packages each year. Information here: https://www.butthousekeld.co.uk/herriot-way/
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to stay in different locations each evening, contact the good people at Brigantes Holidays, who will arrange everything for you – accommodation each night and baggage transfer between your overnight stays. You can find their Herriot Way package here:
http://www.brigantesenglishwalks.com/herriot-way/
When is the best time of the year to do the walk?
That really depends on what you’re hoping for! I could probably make a case for each month of the year, based on different criteria. The book has a section entitled ‘When to Walk’ which discusses some of these.
My mom would love to do the walk–we’ve all loved James Herriot our whole lives– but has difficulty walking. Are all the paths drivable?
Beth, this is a hiking trail and none of it is suitable for cars.
Quick update re Taxi services along the Herriot Way – I’ve just had this helpful information provided by James Peacock who runs a taxi service out of Bainbridge and is perfectly situated for Herriot Way shuttles:
Email: james-peacock@btconnect.com
Web: https://www.james-peacock.co.uk/
Tel: 01969 650212 / 650465
Butt House in Keld in the past has offered rides and pickup for each section if you stay with them. I would verify this with them as it might have changed for 2023. I used this service and it was wonderful not to have to pack up each morning.
Diana, good point! I spoke to Jacqui at Butt House recently, and they are now doing full Herriot Way holiday packages, with accommodation and transport for all four/five days. Ring 01748 886374 for more details, or see here: https://www.butthousekeld.co.uk/herriot-way/
Good morning Stuart, I would like to walk Melbecks to Harkerside Moors the first week of September. I have a car so I will need to leave it at my starting point and then return to my car by bus or other transport. Do you explain such options in your book?
The book includes information on any public transport options that may be available in each village. The Little White Bus Swaledale shuttle may help you with this walk, it calls at Muker, Gunnerside and Reeth.
I wasn’t aware of the Little White Bus, Swaledale. Knowing this I can be confident of walking parts of the Herriot Way and returning to my car. Most helpful. Thank you!
Hi I am thinking of bringing a group to walk the HW next June. Where is the best place to find accommodation up to 15 rooms? This year we walked the Nidderdale Way and stayed in Harrogate, and organised a bus for the transfers.
Thanks
Kevin
Your best bet is probably Hawes. It’s the biggest town on the route and it has the most accommodation – including a Youth Hostel, which could possibly house your whole group. Failing that there are plenty of B&B / pub / hotel beds around the town, but you’d all be distributed. There are a couple of local taxi firms, but not sure if they have a bus!
Hi,
Do you think the walk would be feesable in trainers? My 14 year old would prefer this rather than walking boots.
Kind regards
Ben
Yes I’d think so, although he may end up with wet feet at the end of the day. I’ve always advocated walking in whatever footwear you’re most comfortable in. Trainers, approach shoes, fell runners, all pretty much the same and for three season walking in the UK, absolutely fine.
Hello, is it feasible to park a car in one of the 4 villages whilst walking the Herriot Way? I guess Hawes is the largest village and therefore more likely to have a sizeable car park. Do they permit overnight parking for 4/5 nights? Thanks
Hi Gill, the guide book has advice on parking and some alternatives to leaving your car in a village for 4 days unattended. In fact Reeth is probably your best bet, rather than Hawes. Parking is cheaper and easier to access, with lots of spaces around the village green.
Hi Stuart We are doing the walk over three days. Is there anywhere to park in Castle Bolton for that time? I’ve looked in the book but can’t find anything. Thanks
Linda, there is a private (chargeable) car park run by the Castle, but you would need to ask them if you could park there for the duration of your walk. There is parking in the village, on the roadside, but there’s not a lot of space and it’s also used by local residents – maybe have a look on Google Streetview for an indication of spaces etc. Other than that, nothing I can suggest.
Hello there – just wondered if this walk is easy to do using a campervan to stay at places, and then get a bus back at the end of each day to pick the camper up to take it to the next place? Are there good bus routes between the stops please?
Many thanks
Gill
Hi Gill, this is an excellent question and one that’s quite close to my heart at the moment! Unfortunately, the answer is no. Wensleydale has a bus service so you could shuttle between Hawes and Aysgarth easily enough and Swaledale has a similar service so you could use that between Keld and Reeth. However, there is no bus service linking the two dales so you can’t get between Hawes and Keld and between Reeth and Aysgarth using buses. You may be able to find a taxi service to do this, but it would be quite expensive as there are none located close to the Herriot Way that I know of.
Sorry about that, Stuart
That’s really helpful, thank you!
Hi Stuart – myself and 3 friends completed the Herriot Way on Sat 25th September. I must say your guide book was invaluable! I went on the website and requested the certificates for all of my team!
Hello Stuart
Together with two of our 4 children my wife and i are planning to walk the Heriots Way next year (around Easter). We would like to buy the book but that is at this moment not possible because there is no delivery to Belgium, where we live. Ordering through the Amazon website is also not possible because the book is currently not available.
Is there another way to receive your book? We probably will walk 3 days from Aysgarthe to Reeth. I assume that we won’t have problems to make a reservation for a taxi between Reeth and Aysgarth?
Looking forward to your answer.
Kind regards
Sven
Hi Sven – “Walking the Herriot Way” should be available in both the .de and .fr Amazon stores as a printed paperback (in English). If you’re not seeing this then there’s possibly something wrong with my listing, but I have checked my Amazon dashboard and it shows as available. The other option is to purchase a digital version of the book (click here for eBook) as there are no geographical restrictions on ebook sales. Check the taxi option well in advance and it will not be cheap – there are no local taxi firms! Let me know how you get on, and I hope you all have a great walk next year! Stuart
Hello Stuart
Thank you for your reply. I have just bought the book. The longing can begin!
Sven
I ran into the same problem trying to get the hard copy book in USA. Could only get eBook. But I checked again a week ago and I now have my hard copy from Amazon and have downloaded your maps. Already to do the walk in May 22 if travel is possible from US. Fingers crossed!
HI,
purchased WTHW via amazon and wish to download the pdf maps using the code at the back of the book. can you send as website seems to suggest i can only do this if i buy the book again ? many thanks jez
Hi Jez, if you go to this link (https://www.pocketroutes.co.uk/herriot-4ed-maps/) and then insert the password from p117 (the one beginning aL… and the password is case sensitive) you will be able to download the maps directly. Unfortunately, they are too big to send in an email. Come back if you have any more problems.
Regards, Stuart
Just completed the Herriot Way with my dog on the 27/05/2021. in my opinion this long distance path compares favourably with most in the UK and I have walked a fair few but why has it not been waymarked? If nothing else it would help promote this fantastic route even if waymark signs were only attached to existing finger posts at critical points.
Bill, glad you enjoyed the route. The waymarking is something I have been looking at, but the powers that be have had other priorities for the last few months – hopefully we can make some progress again soon.
Hi, can I ask what kind of accommodation did you stay in with your dog please? Thanks Ange.
Hi we are due to walk the Herriot Way in April. Can you recommend any accomodation with secure parking in Aysgarth or Hawes where we can leave our car for the duration of the walk? You have already told us about Butt House in Keld, thank you. Also, any recommendations for luggage transfer? Thanks
Marie, long-term parking options in Hawes are limited, but you may find a B&B that will allow you to park on their premises, I’m not aware of any though. Aysgarth village has no truly secure parking, as even B&B parking would be on the road, or just off it. The Falls Coffee House (07891 062132) has a large car park, managed by a third party provider (details in the 4th edition book) and you can park there for the duration, but it’s open to anyone walking past, so not ‘secure’ in that definition. Your best bet really is Butt House. In terms of baggage couriers I will only ever recommend Brigantes (https://www.brigantesenglishwalks.com/herriot-way/#baggage) who may not be the cheapest but they are the most reliable in my experience. Hope that helps and have a great walk!
We are due to start the walk n Tuesday from Keld. Are there any issues on the route we should know about? Would you advise the high or low route on Tuesday?
Hi Graham, not aware of any issues at the moment, the floods will have left some riverside damage I imagine, but not enough to prevent progress. I would recommend the high route above Swaledale if you’ve not done it before and if the weather is reasonable. You have plenty of riverside walking through Wensleydale on your Day 3 so the high route on Day 1 will make for a nice contrast.
Let me know how you get on!
Stuart
Weather looking a bit dodgy on Tuesday. Have done the C2C route from K to R, so will see what Tuesday brings.
You may have noticed from the maps that the Herriot Way low route beside the Swale is not the same as the C2C low route. I wanted to avoid the tricky road section and include the Swing Bridge into Reeth. The HW route climbs out of Gunnerside, giving some great views up and down Swaledale which you don’t get with the C2C route.
Good morning. My husband and I are planning to walk the Herriot Way in April/May 2020. We live abroad and so would be flying in to a northern airport then using either public transport or hiring a car to our start point. Public transport looks doable but tortuous! Is there safe parking at any of the start points? (I assume as it is a circular walk it doesn’t matter too much where we start and finish?) Or any sugestions on the best way to use public transport? We are retired so have no fixed timetable (ie, we can please ourselves to a large extent!) Thank you
Marie, I would agree that public transport into the heart of the Dales can be a bit hard going, especially if your visit happens to coincide with the Easter public holidays, so hiring a car would be the easiest option in terms of getting there. There are a couple of places that will let you park your car if you stay there, and I can heartily recommend Butt House in Keld (https://www.butthousekeld.co.uk/). Jacqui and Chris will let you park for the duration of your walk, in their gated car park, provided you stay with them at the start or end (or both) and believe me you will not regret staying with them! Hope that helps, Stuart.
How have the recent floods in Grinton affected the route?
Graham, based on what I saw on TV news this morning, the path between Reeth and Grinton was under about 4 feet of water. The tops of the fence posts were just about visible. The road route didn’t look much better with no cars being able to get through.
I imagine the water level will recede quite quickly though. The widely posted image of the bridge that was washed away was further out of Grinton and does not affect the Herriot Way route, although it will have a huge effect on the locals, as will all the other flood damage.
See my reply to Ken’s comment below about getting more local information.
Thanks Stuart. We are not planning to do it until the end of September, so hopefully things will have settled down by then
Hello Stuart. We have just seen the tv reports of flooding and destroyed bridges in the area and are walking Herriot Way 5-12 August when even more rain is forecast!
Do you think it is still “doable” and would you recommend any deviations. Also we are planning to from Thwaite to Grinton along the Swale Way – is this a good route to take with these conditions?
Thank you
Ken
This is a really difficult question to answer. There is certainly a lot of disruption to the roads local to the Herriot Way and this may make it difficult to get to the start of the walk, but not impossible, from what I can see on the local news and social media.
In terms of the path, that may also be impacted particularly on the Aysgarth to Hawes section which runs close to the Ure for most of the day. However, the water will recede quite quickly I imagine, so that path may be passable, if muddy by the time you walk.
You will need to check closer to the time. Speak to your accommodation providers for more localised guidance, or the tourist information points in Reeth and the National Park centres in Hawes and Aysgarth.
I would always recommend the high route above Swaledale from Keld to Reeth, but especially at the moment which will avoid any trouble beside the Swale. If you’re thinking of the Swale Way route, that runs right beside the river for parts and may be affected.
Hi there, my husband and I are planning the Herriot way easter 2020. Is it weatherwise possible and can we do it in 3 stages? We both are hikers so hikes of 8-9 hours are no problem for us. Many thanks!
Hi Annick, that sounds fine. Easter next year is the second weekend in April and there will be plenty of daylight hours to complete each day’s walking. Weather is impossible to predict, but unless there’s heavy snow or floods you should be fine. The 3 day option is possible with 2 long legs of about 20 miles each and a shorter 12 mile one. The book has details. If you want to wait for a couple of months, the new fourth edition will have details of a low route between Keld and Reeth and you can use that to make three approximately equal stages.
Hi Stuart, many thanks for this reply! Yes, I would like to wait for the new edition. Are you going to inform us through mail or do we check this website regulary? Greetings from Antwerp!
I would set yourself a reminder to check the website towards the end of September, it should be ready by then hopefully.
I want to thank the organisers of this beautiful route I have completed today. I started yesterday from Hawes leaving my car at the National Park Centre, doing Hawes to Grinton and then back to Hawes going clockwise. I have particularity enjoyed the first section to Keld and the one around Aysgarth. I am used to cover many miles and this time I only had 2 available days; still, it’s such an enjoyable walk that I’d have loved taking it easier to enjoy it even more. I will return (hopefully with one of my daughters) maybe going anticlockwise or trying the lower section from Keld to Reeth. Best regards, Giovanni from Harrogate
hi i am planning to do this walk in April, and was hoping to wild camp for most of it. is it easy to for two small tents ? and the campsites, do you have to book in advance?
You don’t need to book campsites ahead, unless you’re walking over Easter (19-22 Apr) in which case it might be worth it. Wild camping isn’t easy on some sections, especially between Aysgarth and Hawes, but I have wild camped the whole route; just be prepared to pitch late and leave early.
Hi, looks a fantastic walk. How would you suggest splitting it into three days? and do you know any dog friendly b and b’s on route. Many thanks
I can’t recommend any dog-friendly B&Bs, not really something I’ve ever needed. However, if you book your holiday through a company like Brigantes (see links page) they can sort that for you.
It’s not possible to split into three equal days, due to the way the accommodation falls along the route, so you are going to end up with a couple of long days and a short(ish) one. Plan to start in Reeth/Grinton and walk to Askrigg – then on the second day walk to Keld. That leaves the final third day as the regular Keld to Reeth/Grinton leg.
Hi Emma.
I shall be walking the Herriot way with my dog for the fourth time this summer, its a fantastic walk. Some of the dog friendly hotel’s (although normally at a supplement) that I have used and enjoyed are listed below.
Hawes:
The Crown (due to reopen February 2019)
The Bulls head B & B
The Fountain
Keld:
I’ve only ever used the Keld Lodge, can’t recommend it highly enough, very friendly management & staff and are really well set up for walkers. Always busy with walkers and dogs so book early, I would recommend checking availability here before booking anything else as it fills very quickly and I’ve had to change my plans a number of times.
Reeth:
I have only used the Bridge at Grinton which is 1 mile past Reeth. The rooms are OK, bit dated but clean. Excellent food, dog friendly, very cosy bar.
Aysgarth:
The Wheatsheaf at Carperby (1 mile before Aysgarth on the clockwise walk) is excellent. And when experiencing all things Herriot, the Wheatsheaf was where James Herriot spent his honeymoon.
Hope all this helps, enjoy the walk
I’m thinking about doing the herriot way in march. Usually is there any snow on the trail in this time? Would you advise against going at this time because of snow? Thanks a lot.
There’s no way to predict whether there will be snow on the ground in March, the weather at that time of the year is so unpredictable. There is a small chance that snow, especially on the high ground may make conditions difficult, but mostly likely it will just be wet and grey rather than deep snow. Hope that helps.
Hi
A small group of us are thinking of walking the Herriots Way next week. Plan is to leave a car at Hawes and walk to Aysgarth (13 m) the same day. Following day walk to Keld and stay overnight (22) then complete the walk by returning to Hawes the next morning (17m??)Have we got the distances right? We are all reasonably fit and regular walkers.
Michelle – no not quite right – your second day is actually going to be 26 miles and your final day will be 13. The digital guide for the anti-clockwise route has a distance planner and can be downloaded immediately following payment, so still plenty of time to order that before you go. It includes the maps too. https://www.herriotway.com/shop/
Hi Stuart, would you by any chance know why The Way ignores Leyburn, yet includes Hawes? It seems a little strange that one is never mentioned in Herriots Yorkshire, yet Leyburn obviously had fond memories but is absent from the trail!! Cheers Colin
Hi Colin, the walk was originally based on a short description of a walk he took with his son, rather than a walk that explores the places mentioned in his books or where he worked. That’s probably another walk that could be considered though!
Is this walk doable in only 2 days, whilst being able to actually enjoy it?
If you enjoy back to back 26 mile walks then sure, I know other people have done it like that and the position of services along the route allow for it.
Hi Stuart.
Do you happen to know whether there is still a shop in Keld? Your guide book suggests that there is but the village website says not. Maybe it has closed down since you wrote the book? We are walking the Herriot Way at the end of May/start of June.
Thanks from Libby
Hi Libby, yes the shop is open – it’s a summer only operation now though I think, and don’t expect too much from it – basic supplies only.
If you’re staying in Keld but not at Keld Lodge it’s worth booking a table now if you want to eat there in the evening.
Stuart
Hi Stuart! My name is Guillermo, I’m from Argentina. This is my first time in the Dales.. I’ll be in the Dales in 14th May, to walk the Herriot Way. Do you know if there is any camping in Aysgarth? I’m a single man, only me and my tent :). Thank you very much!
Hi Guillermo, there are two campsites in Aysgarth that take tents. The closest to the path is the Aysgarth Falls Hotel – the Herriot Way path passes through the campsite! See this link for more details: UK Campsite Website
Thank you Stuart!
Can I take a dog on this walk?
Simple answer, yes. There’s a section in the book on walking with a dog on the Herriot Way.
Hello. Would it be possible to split the walk into 5 equal days of aprox 10 miles per day? Thank you.
Not without relying on a taxi pickup service – overnight stops just aren’t positioned that way
Thank you.
What’s the closest train station to the route
Ciaran, the book includes a whole section on “Getting To and From” the walk, including car, train and bus options. The nearest station is Garsdale, on the Settle Carlisle line.
where do you park your car at aysgarth for the duration of the four day walk
Dawn, the book includes a whole section on “Getting To and From” the walk, including car parking options around the route. There is some limited parking in Aysgarth and if you book a B&B there either before or after your walk they will be able to help.
Hello, the only other long distance walk I have done is the WHW last year. I’m planning to do this last week in April with my two cocker spaniels.
In terms of finding the route, the WHW was so well marked and the book so good you really couldn’t get lost.
What level of map reading skills will I need for this walk?
I am an older female walker walking alone so suffering from a few nerves!
Unlike the WHW, the Herriot Way isn’t signed at all, but the book has meticulous written instructions and annotated maps and all the feedback I’ve had suggests no-one has had any trouble finding their way. You won’t be hacking across pathless moorland so you can probably manage the walk without a compass. You won’t meet as many people on the path as you did on the WHW either. Hope that helps
What will the expected weather be in September?
Pieter – this is England, it’s impossible to predict what the weather will be like, I’m afraid. I’ve had wonderful warm days in September and then I’ve had snow too! The book does cover the average rainfall, sunshine and temperature for the region, so that may help you decide.
The times in the book seem to be inconsistent between the maps at the back and the walk synopsis and the distances seem to be inconsistent between the synopsis and the itinerary planner. Which are correct?
We were planning to do it over three days. Probably askrigg to thwaite to grinton. But I can’t work out if it’s a good split 😔.
Askrigg to Grinton is about 2.5 days from the full 4 day route, but it includes the two biggest days in terms of height gain, still should be easily doable in 3 days though.
hi – I would like to walk it in 24 hours as a charity challenge – how suitable are the paths for night time walking / navigation
I would try and time it so that you are on the southern part of the walk at night, between Aysgarth and Hardraw, you are at least always within a short walk of the road and safety then. Good luck
I’m not very fit to be able to do the long distances each day. I can cope with 7-8 miles a day. Can it be split in to a 6/7 day walk with B&B’s? I think the problem will be Day 2 and Day 3. Was thinking about missing out Hawes and staying at Hardraw, then to Thwaite. But we’d need somewhere to stay between Keld and Reeth. But thinking the path is too high up on the fells for accommodation?
You have solved the Day 2 problem by doing Hardraw to Thwaite – that’s 8 miles, 4 miles up and 4 down 🙂 There is a low route (not described in the book) between Keld and Reeth, following the Swale and you could break your journey at Gunnerside. The route is described in the Trailblazer Coast to Coast guide book I think, it’s not the usual C2C route either, but lots of people use it, especially in bad weather to avoid the tops.
Thanks Stuart, you’ve given me hope 😃
Just finished walking the herriots way in two days but we ended walking miles on busy roads is this the normal way to walk the james herriot way thank you
The guide book describes a route that manages to avoid any busy roads and includes almost no tarmac at all, outside of the towns.
How advisable do you think it is to do this walk alone (solo female). Any feedback from others who have done this? Have done Cotswolds Way with others but think I would be comfortable on that one, just for comparison.
Elise – I’m asked this quite a lot, not just about the Herriot Way and I will say what I say to all solo female walkers in the UK – you’re as safe walking in the hills as anyone, provided you know how to navigate and you take the usual precautions in terms of avoidance of risk (i.e. don’t walk off a cliff). I presume part of your question also relates to personal safety and I would say the same thing, in fact you are probably safer walking alone in the hills than you are in the towns cities. Although they’re not a common sight, I’ve seen plenty of solo female walkers and backpackers in the hills and on the Herriot Way – I hope you enjoy the walk.
Hi would this walk be possible in a straight 24hrs.
If you can walk 52 miles in 24 hours then there’s no reason why not!
Hi,
My friend and I are fairly experienced walkers. Regularly doing 20 mile walks a day comfortably. Will this be doable in 2 days? Given its terrain etc. Many thanks.
It would be similar to doing back-to-back Yorkshire Three Peaks walks – similar distance, slightly lower height gain. The terrain won’t be a factor I don’t think, just the distances.
Just wondered if anyone had done the walk in 3 days ?
And wondered if so did you use campsites and do you have a recommendation for campsites for me ?
Jude – the walk is certainly doable in three days – providing you’re fit enough to do it in that time. You may need to wildcamp at least once in order to do it that way, as I don’t think the official campsites are positioned conveniently enough. Keld and Reeth both have great campsites and there are plenty of wildcamp options too. There is a section in the book that covers campsites and wildcamping.
Best time of year to do the walk?
Craig – every season has its own advantages and there’s a section in the book that covers just this.
We are a group of about 10. We wish to camp. Are there campsites at the ends of each days walking? Also what are the rules/restrictions on wild camping
David, there are campsites for tents in (or just outside within walking distance) Aysgarth, Hawes, Hardraw, Keld and Reeth. Wild camping is essentially illegal without the landowners permission, but is accepted / tolerated if done without leaving any trace and typically on the hill tops rather than in the valleys. You will struggle to find anywhere suitable to support 10 tents though, unless you manage to track down a farmer and request permission. The exception would be the summit of Great Shunner where there is plenty of space, but it’s exposed!
My husband and I will be in Yorkshire for Christmas and we are looking at a pre-Christmas walk challenge. We rather enjoy multi-day walk and are interested in doing the Herriot Way. Is it possible to do the walk in winter time? Thanks.
Claudine, it should be possible to walk the route in winter, but depends on the amount of snow that has fallen on the higher ground. The section between Aysgarth and Hawes is low level, so unlikely to be affected too badly by snow, but the path over Great Shunner Fell is high and open and could be difficult if there’s been a lot of snow. Other than that you should be fine. I’ve walked it several times in the winter, mostly I’ve just got wet 🙂
Can I take a dog on the Herriot Way?
The walk is all on public footpaths and bridleways so no restrictions on taking a dog. Not all accommodation providers will take dogs though.
We have only 3 days to walk but would like to sample part of the walk. Where would could we base ourselves so that we could go out for days? We will only have one car. Is there any public transport?
Carol – There’s a bus service between Keld and Reeth which should enable you to walk that section, depending on the times of the buses you may have to walk it backwards I guess? There’s also a bus between Hawes and Castle Bolton which will allow you walk that section too. You could do Great Shunner Fell as an ‘out and back’ walk from either Thwaite or Hawes, which is your three days. The book has more details on buses and car parking options. Of course it also has the maps and route directions you’d need for these sections.
Hope that helps
Stuart
How long would you say it took you to do the route of grinton to aysgarth?
Courteney – that’s a very subjective question, as the answer is ‘it depends how fast you walk’, but that section is about 13 miles, it gains a reasonable amount of height and I would allow 7 hours to walk it. You may well do it in much less and if it’s a particularly nice day you may want to stop often, so it could take longer.
Hi Stuart, Do you happen to have a link to an anti clockwise route? I cant find it on the herriot in hawes website? Thank you
Libby, you can purchase an anti clockwise Edition of the guide book from the shop on this site.
https://www.herriotway.com/shop/
Just scroll down the page until you reach the anti clockwise section.
The book comes in three PDF files, which you can print out easily.
If you need anything else, just reply to this comment.
Hope you don’t mind Stuart, but I’ve put the GPS routes up onto http://www.outdoorsgps.com as downloadable routes for their apps. We’re doing the walk the week after next and it seemed to be the easiest way of getting the route onto my phone.
The routes are on
http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/285604_herriot-way-aysgarth-to-hawes
http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/285610_herriot-way-hawes-to-keld
http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/285611_herriot-way-keld-to-grinton
http://www.outdoorsgps.com/route/show/285612_herriot-way-grinton-to-aysgarth
Great book, by the way!
Hi Stuart
I bought your book last year but have still to do the walk.I was interested in what you say about IPads as I have now bought the mini.Do I need to purchase something else off you to put it on the iPad .Also I was thinking about using it as a GPS I believe you can buy the attachment from companies like Bad Elf then download a mapping programme.Not that I would have a clue how to do it.
Bob
Bob
The PDF files that I sent will work on an iPad or any other mobile device. You need to look at the relevant instructions manual / Google it to find out how to load them on to it.
The device will probably also provide GPS functionality, but like you said you will need a third party app to view maps on. Something like ViewRanger or RouteBuddy will do this for you. Both these products have iOS apps that will work on iPad / iPhone etc.
Hope that helps
Stuart
Hello Stuart Firstly thank you so much for answering all our questions here. We are planning to do this walk in the next few weeks. You mention being able to download some files to an iPhone – where do I find these files? I have purchased the book so wondered if the link is in there?
Hi Kate, there’s a link to download the digital maps at the start of section 3 in the guide book.