Walks from Burnsall: Explore the Yorkshire Dales on Foot

Burnsall is one of the best starting points for exploring the Yorkshire Dales on foot, with scenic trails that will suit casual walkers as well as experienced hikers. Whether you opt for a gentle riverside walk in the Yorkshire Dales or a longer circular walk around Burnsall, you’re sure to find stunning limestone scenery, traditional villages and sprawling views across Wharfedale. In fact, a lot of the walking routes from Burnsall follow the River Wharfe or sections of the famous Dales Way, so it’s easy to enjoy the area’s natural beauty whatever your ability.

Walk from Burnsall to Appletreewick

One of the most popular Burnsall walks flows along the River Wharfe to the beautiful village of Appletreewick. This easy-to-moderate walking route is approximately 5 miles (8 km) and takes around 2-2.5 hours. A mostly level riverside path forms part of the Dales Way, and offers beautiful views across meadows, woodland and limestone scenery. Appletreewick has a host of welcoming pubs ideal for refreshments before retracing your steps back to Burnsall, and is a great choice for beginners looking for a relaxed Yorkshire Dales experience to ease them into walking.

Walk from Burnsall to Grassington Riverside

For a slightly longer riverside walk from Burnsall, why not head to the bustling market village of Grassington. At around 7 miles (11 km) this is another easy-to-moderate route that follows the Dales Way alongside the River Wharfe and back to Burnsall. You’ll enjoy passing stunning landmarks including the Loup Scar, a stunning scenic limestone gorge and popular wild swimming spot. As well as the cascading Linton Falls and, depending on how rainy it’s been, the famous Linton stepping stones. Grassington is also home to heaps of independent shops, cafés and traditional Yorkshire pubs so can make for a great day out for confident walkers.

Burnsall Circular Walk

If you prefer the ease of a circular walk around Burnsall, but still want some variety, then discover a rewarding loop of roughly 6.5 miles (10.5 km) spanning Burnsall, Thorpe, Linton and Grassington. While it takes approximately 3-4 hours, the route is largely considered easy to moderate, with a rewarding mix of riverside paths, quiet country lanes and open farmland. Along the way you’ll enjoy panoramic views over Wharfedale, charming stone villages and peaceful patches of the River Wharfe before returning to Burnsall.

The River Wharfe provides the setting for some of the most scenic Burnsall walks, with peaceful trails that are perfect for a leisurely day in the great outdoors. Following well-established footpaths, you’ll pass rolling meadows, dry stone walls and picturesque bridges while enjoying one of the region’s most tranquil landscapes.

Walking Along the River Wharfe

With level paths providing an accessible route through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, walking alongside the River Wharfe is one of the highlights of visiting Burnsall. Many walking routes from Burnsall begin or end beside the river, allowing visitors to experience the very best of Wharfedale whether you’re heading towards Grassington or Appletreewick, you’ll enjoy ever-changing scenery as the river winds through woodlands, open countryside and charming local villages. These riverside walks in the Yorkshire Dales are particularly popular during spring and summer, when colourful wildflowers line the paths and the surrounding landscape is at its most vibrant.

Wildlife & Scenic Viewpoints

The riverside surrounding Burnsall is so rich in wildlife that it’s not unusual to spot herons, kingfishers, dippers and ducks along the River Wharfe, while buzzards and curlews can often also be seen overhead. It’s a great destination for nature lovers and keen photographers, with scenic viewpoints across Wharfedale providing excellent opportunities to capture the surrounding limestone hills, traditional stone barns and peaceful riverside scenery. Early mornings and late afternoons often offer the best light for photography, particularly during the changing colours of autumn.

Experienced walkers will find plenty of opportunities to venture beyond the village, with longer Yorkshire Dales walks showcasing dramatic scenery, rolling hills and welcoming rural communities.

Exploring Wharfedale on Foot

Wharfedale offers countless opportunities for longer walks that explore the valley’s varied landscapes. From Burnsall, walkers can tackle full-day routes to Kettlewell which comes in at around 11 miles (17km) or continue along the Dales Way towards Buckden for a more demanding hike. Another popular option is the route through Linton, Hebden and Grassington, creating a circular walk of around 10–12 miles (16-19km). More experienced walkers can also combine Burnsall with Conistone Dib and Conistone Pie, if you’d like to add a rewarding climb and spectacular limestone viewpoints before returning via the River Wharfe.

These extended walking routes from Burnsall are ideal for those looking to spend a full day exploring Wharfedale’s network of well-maintained public footpaths.

Connecting with Nearby Villages

One of the underrated pleasures of walking routes from Burnsall is the chance to connect with several picturesque Yorkshire villages within a single walk. Routes linking Burnsall with Appletreewick, Grassington, Linton and Hebden means you experience traditional stone cottages, welcoming country pubs and historic churches while enjoying the spectacular scenery between each destination.

These longer circular walks around Burnsall offer plenty of variety too, with riverside paths, open fields and quiet country lanes in abundance to create memorable full-day walking experiences.

Burnsall is a truly excellent destination for families and dog owners, with a variety of walking routes suitable for all ages and abilities. Gentle riverside walks in the Yorkshire Dales offer relatively flat terrain that’s ideal for younger children, while many circular walks around Burnsall offer shorter distances with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery.

The Burnsall to Linton Falls Walk is an excellent choice for families, covering approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) of mostly flat riverside paths and quiet village lanes, with plenty of opportunities to stop by the river, watch wildlife and visit the famous stepping stones at Linton Falls. The relatively gentle terrain makes it suitable for children with a reasonable level of fitness.

The Burnsall to Appletreewick Walk is a popular option for dog owners as it has well-maintained footpaths with mostly level terrain, open fields and riverside space to give dogs plenty of room and lots to sniff on your walk.

Dogs are welcome on most local footpaths, although owners should keep them under close control particularly around livestock, lambing season and during spring and early summer when many fields will have grazing sheep and nesting birds.

Following countryside guidance by keeping dogs on a lead where requested, clearing up after them and respecting gates, stiles and farmland helps protect wildlife, support local farmers and ensure everyone can continue to enjoy these popular Burnsall walks.