Planning a Touring Route Through the Yorkshire Dales

By Cooking Meals in a Small Caravan Kitchen
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8 Aug 2026

Planning a Touring Route Through the Yorkshire Dales

Why the Yorkshire Dales rewards a touring holiday

The Dales pack an extraordinary variety into a compact area: limestone scars, hay meadows, viaducts, market towns and quiet lanes that seem purpose-built for a leisurely tow. What makes it especially good for caravanners is that the distances are short. You can move base every two or three days without spending the whole holiday behind the wheel, and a 40-mile hop will take you from limestone country up into the high fells and back down into a completely different landscape.

It is not, however, a region to improvise in. Narrow walled lanes, steep gradients and summer traffic mean the difference between a lovely day and a stressful one is decided long before you set off.

Build your route as a loop, not a straight line

A sensible touring route through the Dales starts in the south and works north, keeping to the main valleys and using the bigger roads to link them. A workable shape is Skipton, then Grassington, Hawes, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and finally Settle — using the A65 and A684 as your spine and only dipping onto minor roads for the final approach to a campsite.

Skipton and Malhamdale (nights 1–3): easy access from the M65 and A65, and a good base for Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and the Settle to Carlisle railway.
Wharfedale — Grassington or Kettlewell (nights 3–5): the B6160 up the valley is manageable but tight in places. Approach from the south rather than over the tops.
Wensleydale — Hawes (nights 5–8): reach this via the A684 through Garsdale rather than the higher passes.
West and south — Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale or Settle (nights 8–10): a gentler run out, with the Howgills on one side and the Forest of Bowland on the other.

Towing distances: the honest numbers

Aim for no more than 45 to 60 miles on a moving day, and treat anything over 90 minutes of actual driving as a full day's work. In the Dales, 30 miles on an A-road can easily take an hour once you factor in a steep climb in second gear and a queue behind a tractor.

Two specific roads to plan around: Fleet Moss between Hawes and Buckden, and Buttertubs Pass between Hawes and Thwaite, are both steep, narrow and thoroughly unpleasant with a caravan on the back. Route east to west through Garsdale on the A684 instead and you will arrive far more relaxed. If you are unsure of a gradient, treat any "unsuitable for caravans" sign as absolute rather than advisory.

Fill up before you leave a town. Rural filling stations are sparse, and some of the smaller ones have forecourts that are awkward to enter with a long outfit.

Laybys, passing places and safe stopping

Not every layby is a safe place to pull a caravan into. Dales laybys are often on blind bends, with soft verges and a drop away from the road.

Use marked laybys with a visible run-in and run-out, and enough length for the outfit plus a metre or two of clearance.
Never reverse into a passing place on a single-track road. Pull in forwards where you can, or wait at a wide junction.
Passing places are for passing, not parking. They exist so that two vehicles do not meet on a blind bend.
Village car parks and market squares in Grassington, Hawes, Leyburn and Masham usually have longer bays, and often a coach space that suits a caravan for a short stop.
Plan your stops rather than trusting to luck. Note a couple of options for each leg of the journey in advance.

Choosing a campsite that suits a caravan

Dales campsites range from simple five-pitch farms to full-facility parks, and the smaller ones are often the most memorable. Book ahead between Easter and September, especially for weekends and school holidays, and ask specific questions rather than relying on a listing description.

Access: ask about the final approach — width, gradient, and whether there is a tight gateway or a low branch overhanging the entrance.
Pitch type: hardstanding with electric hook-up is worth having in a wet spring; a grass-only pitch can mean a tow out with a tractor in October.
Pitch length: some sites have narrower pitches than a full-size outfit needs. Confirm the measurement before booking.
Facilities: a decent shower block, a chemical disposal point and water taps spread around the field make a real difference on a week-long stay.
Position: riverside pitches are lovely and can be midgey; higher pitches catch the wind but stay drier underfoot.

Season, weather and the practical kit list

The Dales are green for a reason. Rain arrives quickly and sideways, and valley bottoms can be several degrees colder than the tops. Pack for wet weather and you will enjoy yourself whatever the forecast says.

Levelling ramps and a good groundsheet — very few pitches are perfectly flat.
Waterproof jackets and boots for everyone, plus a drying line or airer.
A torch for late returns from the pub and the walk to the facilities block.
Midgie repellent from June to August, particularly near woodland and water.
A printed route note with your planned stops and campsite phone numbers — mobile signal is patchy in the valleys.

Take your time, keep the daily mileage modest, and the Dales will reward you with some of the best touring in Britain.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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