[All photos and opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. All links are non-affiliated. All prices were correct at time of writing. Prices may vary at time of reading.]

With staycations on the rise, there's no better place to visit in the UK than the Yorkshire Dales. 1 of 15 national parks in the UK, it's a place full of beauty and wildlife. From gorges to waterfalls to fells, the Yorkshire Dales are a paradise for nature lovers. As lockdown restrictions eased in July, I visited the Yorkshire Dales and I loved it so much that I came back a second time in September. I stayed in two different areas, so have explored a lot of the national park. Here are my top 7 things to do in the Yorkshire Dales National Park...

1. Malham Cove

Probably one of the most popular areas in the Dales, Malham Cove is an 80m limestome cliff formed during the last Ice Age. It's found along the Pennine Way and if you brave the 400 steps to the top, then you'll be welcomed with views over the surrounding hills. However, it can get very busy during the summer, so I recommend arriving early (before 10am).

Malham Cove at sunrise

It's possible to access the cove from several areas. There are some car parks in the village of Malham or there's a car park near Malham Tarn. Either way, it's best to arrive early to make sure you can get a space.

During my second visit we arrived at 6am and had the whole cove to ourselves whilst watching the sunrise (unlike the first time we visited when there were crowds of people climbing up the steps at around 11am).

The view from Malham Cove

2. Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss

A few miles from Malham Cove are Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss. The former is a 100m high gorge with two waterfalls flowing through it, whereas the latter is another waterfall found in a secluded area of woodland. There's no parking at these locations but it's possible to access both of these on foot from Malham in around 40 minutes. Both are stunning but once again, it's recommended to go early to avoid crowds. In September, we had the gorge to ourselves for over an hour and we arrived between 8 and 9 am.

Gordale Scar

If you're walking from Malham Cove to Malham Tarn via Gordale Scar then the path will take you up the side of the waterfall, which is a lot of fun! I'll add a link to a more detailed post about this walk soon once I've written it.

Janet's Foss

3. Go waterfall hunting

The Yorkshire Dales has no shortage of waterfalls. There are numerous waterfalls jotted around all over the national park and I definitely recommend visiting at least a few of them as they're definitely some of the best waterfalls I've seen in the UK. Some of these are free whereas others you have to pay to see. I've written a post about the 8 best waterfalls in the area and you can check it out here.

Thornton Force

4. Victoria Cave

Located in the hills between Settle and Stainforth, Victoria Cave is a limestone cave that was discovered in 1837. Ancient animal remains were found within the cave, including mammoth bones, as well as ancient Roman artefacts. It's a fun cave to explore and from the cave it's possible to appreciate views of the surrounding hills. It's possible to park on a nearby road and walk up or if you're up for a day of hiking then I'd recommend a circular route from Settle to Stainforth via the cave, but I'll make a more detailed post about this hike in the future.

Victoria Cave

5. SemerWater

Located near the village of Bainbridge, Semerwater is the second largest natural lake in the Dales and the source of the River Bain, the shortest river in England. It's a peaceful lake with many paths nearby and can be used for a variety of activities, such as fishing, canoeing and sailing. It's possible to access the lake by car and park in a private pay-and-display car park or alternatively you can park in Bainbridge and walk from there. The footpath from Bainbridge takes about an hour in each direction and follows the River Bain for its entirety.

Walking from Bainbridge to Semerwater

Semerwater

6. Wensleydale Creamery

If you like cheese then it's worth visiting the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, where you can learn about the cheesemaking process and even get a peak inside the factory. Prior to the Covid pandemic it was even possible to get a free taster of their famous Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese. Without the famous animated series Wallace and Gromit, the Wensleydale Creamery wouldn't be around today. Parking is available at the visitor centre. Tickets cost £1.95 for adults and children over 12 and is free for children under 12. Make sure to arrive early as it can get quite busy and once you arrive you'll have to book a timeslot due to restricted entry as a result of the pandemic.

7. Pen-y-ghent

Whilst the smallest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-Ghent is one of the most popular fells to climb in the area. At a height of 694m, it's possible to climb in a few hours. Parking is available in Horton-On-Ribblesdale and from there you can access the appropriate footpaths. There are multiple footpaths that take you up the fell but they're all easy to follow. I'll write a more detailed post about this hike soon.

Looking over the River Ribble towards Pen-y-Ghent

Where to Stay

As I said above, I stayed in two different places for both of my visits to the Yorkshire Dales. The first time I stayed in the Riverside BnB in Bainbridge. It's a small BnB, that's quiet and the owners are lovely. The location is ideal as it's close to several waterfalls and the town of Hawes and there's lots of footpaths for walking nearby. The only downside is that it's close to the mainroad and the traffic can be quite loud. It's also quite hidden and the building next door looks a bit rundown but inside it's lovely. However, I'd still recommend it as it's a lovely place to stay.

The village of Bainbridge

The second time I visited I stayed at The Boar's Head in Long Preston, which is near Settle. This BnB is located just outside the national park but the location is ideal for visiting Malham, Settle and several waterfalls nearby. Once again, it's located on the main road so at night the lorries woke me up. However, it was still a nice place to stay and cheaper than many of the other options. .

The impressive rocks near Settle

Overall, I loved my time in the Yorkshire Dales and it's definitely one of my favourite places in England. It's definitely overlooked when compared to other national parks like the Lake District, but I think that's what makes this place so special. It's got fewer tourists but it's no less beautiful and I can't recommend it enough! It definitely reminded me that the UK is often overlooked when compared to holidays abroad; however, it definitely has its special places and the Yorkshire Dales is one of these.