Six Dales Trail

N Yorkshire, W Yorkshire

The Six Dales Trail takes its name from the six dales that are traversed as it makes its way northward from Otley, across the length of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to Middleham. Along the way the trail crosses five watersheds, separating in turn Wharfedale, Washburndale, Nidderdale, Colsterdale, Coverdale, and Wensleydale.

The trail was devised by a small team from the Otley 'Walkers are Welcome' group who were keen to introduce walkers to relatively little-known, but superb Dales scenery. The trail passes through ancient dry-stone-walled sheep pastures, high heather moorland with gritstone outcrops, quiet river banks, and the landscaped parkland surrounding the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey, to finish at the magnificent ruins of Middleham Castle.

The project was funded chiefly by the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but with significant contributions from Otley Town Council and the Long Distance Walkers Association. The trail is waymarked throughout with signs bearing the trail's own logo.

A detailed guide to the trail is in its 3rd edition - see below - with route improvements implemented by North Yorkshire County Council. The updated guide contains full prose directions for following the trail, together with accompanying sections of the Ordnance Survey map showing the route. Background details of historic towns and sites along the way are also given. The trail's website gives regularly-updated details of accommodation and transport.

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Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Walk name encircled by six-point logo
Attributes:	Paths marked on OS mapping Challenging Lake/Reservoir/Loch Moorland River Heritage Military
Start:	SE201455 - Jubilee Tower, Otley, W Yorkshire
Finish:	SE127877 - Market Cross, Middleham, N Yorkshire
Open Date:	2010
Web Sites:	Walkers are Welcome - Otley - Six Dales Trail

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

E-Book	Six Dales Trail  (Amazon Media Group  - 2017 )
Guidebook	Six Dales Trail: A 38 Mile Walk from Otley to Middleham  (Walkers are Welcome - Otley  - 2012 )
Badge & Certificate	Badge & Certificate for Six Dales Trail  (John Sparshatt  - 2010 )

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