Accessibility in the Yorkshire Dales

The founding ethos of the UK’s national parks was access to the countryside for everyone – and the ever-increasing number of accessible Yorkshire Dales activities shows that this is an aim that’s still at the forefront these days. Whether you use a wheelchair, have learning disabilities or have reduced mobility, there are plenty of options around for accessible activities and accommodation as long as you know where to look. 

In this article we’ll highlight some of the best accessible things to do in the Yorkshire Dales, highlighting some places that have really made an effort to provide a welcoming experience for all guests.

Accessible walks in the Yorkshire Dales

The national park’s ‘Miles without Stiles’ routes have been designed with universal accessibility in mind, making them suitable not only for visitors in wheelchairs but also those with pushchairs and prams, or walkers with reduced mobility. The Yorkshire Dales National Park website has a good collection of ‘Miles without Stiles’ walks ranging from short half-mile walks to lengthier outings of up to five miles. 

All these trails have been colour-coded to help visitors pick one that’s suitable for their own personal needs – but we’ve chosen a few of the best accessible Yorkshire Dales walks here to help you get a feel for the area and what to expect.

Gordale Scar access-for all walk

The area around Malham is always popular with walkers – both visitors and locals – because it's at the centre of several spectacular natural attractions. Gordale Scar, a huge limestone gorge, is one of those – and the trail to get there may well be one of the best wheelchair-accessible walks in the Yorkshire Dales. Following the banks of Gordale Beck, it’s a lovely scenic trail where you may well spot birds and other water-based wildlife along the way.

This 0.75-mile (1.2km) trail (one way) is classed as a green ‘access-for-all’ route, which means that it’s suitable for wheelchairs, with a smooth surface throughout and a path width of at least a metre. It’s important to note that there are a couple of stony and steep sections, however, so wheelchair walkers may need a bit of help from time to time. 

Good to know: If you don't think your wheels will be quite tough enough, there’s tramper hire available at Access the Dales Malham Hub. It’s based at the Lister Arms – the pub’s bar is also wheelchair accessible so you can enjoy a drink and meal before or after your walk if you like. Malham’s National Park Centre has a RADAR-accessible toilet facility.

Malham Cove and Malham Tarn access-for-some trails

While you’re in the Malham area, you may also like to explore a couple more attractions in the form of the glacial lake Malham Tarn and the soaring cliffs of Malham Cove. Both of these fantastic spots can be reached via ‘access-for-some’ paths. This means that they won't be suitable for all visitors because of the presence of steps, rougher sections or steeper gradients. 

On the Malham Tarn walk, the surface is gravel and grass, but it’s mostly fairly flat so it should generally be fine for wheelchair users as long as you’ve got good wheels. The trail to Malham Cove is a bit more challenging, as it’s steeper and rougher with a fair amount of loose chippings. In both cases, wheelchair users may need the occasional hand to navigate a slight step or a gate, but with a good off-road wheelchair and some care it’s all perfectly doable.

Good to know: There’s plenty of blue-badge parking at the Malham Visitor Centre car park (which has a RADAR toilet) for the Malham Cove route, and free parking at Watersinks car park (although no designated accessible parking) for the Malham Tarn route.

Aysgarth Falls accessible walk

With accessible gates, a wide path, a smooth surface and a spacious viewing platform, the first part of the Aysgarth Falls trail is one of best accessible walks in the Yorkshire Dales as it really should be suitable for all visitors. Beyond the first 500 metres, things get a bit more challenging as the smooth surface ends and the route continues on unsurfaced or grass tracks. This section should be doable for some visitors with reduced mobility but it won’t be suitable for all, so it's worth checking out the full details before you go.

This is a triple flight of waterfalls, so if you’re not able to continue on to the Lower Falls area, there’s much to enjoy at the Upper and Middle Falls. Aysgarth Visitor Centre has a café, accessible toilets and blue-badge parking, and there’s a tramper for hire.

Good to know: The Access the Dales Aysgarth info page has a YouTube video following a wheelchair walker along the Aysgarth Falls trail so you can get a good idea of what it’s like before you set off.

Longer accessible Yorkshire Dales walks

There's no need to limit yourself to short walks if you have mobility needs – there are several longer accessible walking trails in the Yorkshire Dales that will take you further out into the park’s stunning scenery. While these trails aren’t all on paved wheelchair-friendly surfaces, they’re generally fairly flat and they’ve all got accessibility features such as handrails, nearby acceaaible parking and accessible toilets. Some of our favourites are:

• The Strid Wood trail at Bolton Abbey, running alongside the River Wharfe and with good facilities at the start/end point

• The circuit of Grimwith Reservoir, to watch the sailing boats glide across the water

• Ivelet Moor, for a chance to take in some of the area’s famous heather-clad moors and see some of the resident on a well-made wide path with occasional steeper sections

Good to know: If you’d like to join up with fellow walkers for a friendly outing, take a look at the inclusive outdoor events organised by Access the Dales, including walks, camping trips and try-out days; they’ve also got full details of all the places you can hire a tramper in the Yorkshire Dales.

Accessible Yorkshire Dales attractions and activities

As with the walking trails, there’s a growing number of accessible things to do in the Yorkshire Dales – more and more attractions are making the effort to ensure they’re able to welcome all visitors, and there are several outdoor centres that have adapted facilities or procedures to help disabled guests try out all sorts of activities. Below we’ve highlighted a few that have been recommended by previous visitors with accessibility needs; for more of Yorkshire’s best accessible attractions, take a look at the Accessible Great Days Out guide for the area.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Historic monuments can sometimes struggle with accessibility, but the National Trust has done a great job in making Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal accessible for as many visitors as possible. Much of the site has level access for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and there are shuttle buses, lifts and powered mobility vehicles to open up other sections. There’s designated accessible parking at the West Gate entrance, several accessible toilets around the estate and a portable induction loop to hire for guided tours.

As much of the attraction is outdoors, it’s worth noting that there will be uneven areas and some slopes around, but staff are on hand to offer advice on routes around the estate (many of which have been designed with accessibility in mind). There’s a comprehensive accessibility statement online that's well worth reading.

Dales Countryside Museum

Set in a former railway station yard in Hawes, the Dales Countryside Museum is packed with all sorts of exhibits that really bring the heritage and culture of the Yorkshire Dales to life. It’s a great place to visit for a real insight into the area's story, told through its everyday objects, and it’s been nicely designed to cater for visitors with additional needs. Ramps, lifts and wide aisles make the exhibition areas wheelchair accessible, and there are both RADAR and Changing Places toilets available. Meanwhile, interactive exhibits to listen to or feel bring the experience to life for visitors with sensory impairments.

Read more about the museum’s accessibility features and see a virtual tour video at its accessibility page.

Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park

Thrills and spills more your thing? Visitors needn’t miss out because of access needs – and the team at Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, just outside the Yorkshire Dales, have gone out of their way to make sure that as many people as possible can enjoy the fun here. While the physical nature of some of the rides means they won’t all be suitable for all guests, there are plenty of attractions to choose from, and the park’s dedicated accessibility page details facilities such as the Changing Places toilet and the Visible Autism Quiet Space, as well as outlining the process for applying for free Essential Carer tickets.

How Stean Gorge

Accessible adventures are very much on the menu at How Stean Gorge, an activity centre set around a limestone gorge in the Yorkshire Dales. Over the last few years, access to this site has been constantly improved, allowing more visitors to take in the sights and join in the activities. The highlights here are a glass-floored café and viewing platform, both of which have level access, and there are plenty of other helpful facilities including large-print menus, accessible toilets and colour-contrasted walls and doors. 

Disability awareness training among the instructors means that most of the adventure activities – including things like gorge walking, paddleboarding, canyoning and mountain biking – are available to guests with visual or hearing impairments, and many can be adapted for visitors with physical impairments or learning disabilities too. Have a read of the centre’s accessibility guide, and contact them to organise adventures that fit your needs.

Accessibility practicalities in the Yorkshire Dales

As well as finding fun things to do while you're here, you’ll also need to plan your trip around a few practicalities. We’ll run through a few of those here to help you have a smooth and stress-free day out.

 

Yorkshire Dales accessible toilets

The national park is well supplied with accessible public toilets, most of which require a RADAR key to open them. A full list of locations of accessible public toilets is on the Yorkshire Dales National Park website, along with a list of Changing Places toilets. As well as this, many museums, attractions and places to eat will have an accessible toilet, so do check individual websites or call ahead to help you plan your day.

Accessible places to eat in the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales is characterised by traditional pubs and tea rooms, and the historic design of some of them may mean that they’re not able to offer full access for all guests. Access the Dales has a good list of tried-and-tested accessible places to eat around the Yorkshire Dales (along with a few tips for more attractions), but it can never be completely comprehensive so it’s worth emailing or calling ahead to any place you like the look of to see if they're able to accommodate you or can make any adaptations to help.

Accessible accommodation in the Yorkshire Dales

If you're planning to stay for a night or a slightly longer break you'll need to find some suitable accessible accommodation. Again, Access the Dales is a great source of information, including a list of step-free Yorkshire Dales accommodation options, while the ever-reliable Euan’s Guide tips places like the Beamsley Project, which has a holiday cottage and a larger group barn, both of which have been specifically designed for disabled guests.

As accommodation providers become increasingly aware of the need to open up access as much as possible, Pitchup has an ever-growing list of accessible Yorkshire Dales campsites and Disabled Holidays lists wheelchair-friendly holiday cottages for self-catering breaks. With both of these resources, you can filter by specific features to find the place that's just right for you.