Walking trail
Buckden to Kettlewell easy stroll
A linear walk along grassy paths and tracks, following the well-signed route of the Dales Way, starting in Buckden and following the beautiful River Wharfe along its route towards Kettlewell.
Enjoy spectacular views of the Upper Wharfedale Valley as you walk along the river bank. Look out for kingfishers and dippers along the river, and Redmire Wood standing majestically on the slopes of the hillside near Buckden.
Map
Start:
Buckden, grid ref: SD941771
1
From the car park cross over the road and walk down the village green towards the river. Turn left at the bridge and go through the wooden gate to join onto the Dales Way.
2
Follow the path along the river bank keeping the River Wharfe on your left as you walk along. Continue through the fields up to a wooden gate. Go through this wooden gate and follow the path up to a farm track. Coninue left along the farm track passing an old barn on your right until you come to a fork in the track.
3
Take the left fork and continue to follow the Dales Way path onwards through the fields heading South towards Kettlewell.
River Wharfe
The water of the River Wharfe is a good source of food for many animals living along the banks. Look out for kingfisher, oystercatchers and dippers enjoying the water. You may also spot brown trout swimming lazily in the calmer sections of the river.
4
As you pass through Starbotton on the opposite side of the river continue through the fields passing through the gaps in the drystone walls keeping the river on your left until you see the school across the water.
Drystone walls
The drystone walls are one of the defining characteristics of the Yorkshire Dales landscape. The smaller fields around the farms and villages were first walled as early as the 12th century, while the long straight walls on the valley sides date from the late 19th centuries. A good waller can build about six or seven meters of wall in a day.
5
Continue to follow the path through the hay meadows. The path then starts to move uphill towards Kettlewell. Follow this path and go through the gate and out onto the main road. Walk down the road to get into Kettlewell village centre. From here you can either walk back the way you came or catch a bus back up to the car park at Buckden.
Hay Meadows
Our northern hay meadows are some of the best in the Yorkshire Dales. They contain a wide variety of rare and important species such as eyebright, yellow rattle and meadow cranesbill. The hay meadows are an important crop for farmers so please walk in single file.
End:
Kettlewell
