Click Here To Purchase The Yorkshire Dales - South and West (Cicerone Guide)

Authors: Dennis and Jan Kelsall

Publisher: Cicerone

ISBN: 978-1852844851

This guide is definitely worth investing in if you plan to walk parts of the south and west of Yorkshire and its rather striking Dales.

I would say that this could also be an ideal present to give to someone you know who loves the great outdoors and admires Yorkshire.

This is the latest offering from Dennis and Jan Kelsall - the authors of The Ribble Way guide too.

The introduction praises the Yorkshire Dales by saying it “is like nowhere else in England” and this is certainly true. Having had the pleasure of walking many of the routes over the Dales it always strikes me as an interesting but dramatic landscape especially when it’s windy or in stormy weather. On the other hand some of the Dales are more gentle, wooded and prettier.  

The evolutionary character of this land was created 300 million years ago. A time before even people walked the earth and I think the authors capture this essence so well in the following sections.

Before getting into detailed routes, the Kelsalls advise packing food and other provisions before setting out and also state that pubs and cafés are always to be found in a time of refreshment.  Good clothing and sturdy footwear are essential when trekking over barren land as in some of the dales. This health and safety division is worth reading and prepares you in case of accidents. Everyone should make sure they have read this section before setting out on the featured routes and it reminds us that while walking may be fun  it can also be dangerous too! 

Bolton Abbey is the first walk the authors “take” us on. This should start average hikers off well with ready-made paths that run along much of the route.

A lovely descriptive map is included and also a highlighted section on the history of this Abbey.

However when you progress further from the main ruined Abbey some parts of this walk are not as easy as others it seems and the rocks that you  cross are to be taken with much caution as they can be extremely slippery. Judging by the ever-splendid photographs though this route is not to be missed. 

Walk 4, Burnsall and Trollers Gill, seems quite a trek with much barren land complete with over-hanging cliffs and resurgent streams. A snapshot of this place displays its “dramatic confines” which adds much to the atmosphere. When you complete this route it will be worth it as you pass through to Grassington and its leisurely rambles with pubs and cafés along the way. Plus it is only a 5 mile ramble and much easier then the other.

I rather like the look of walk 18, Airedale and Weets Top, with its peaceful waters and parkland meadows.

If you continue on from walk 18 it will eventually lead you to the magical Janet’s Foss - a delightful waterfall that looks like it belongs in fairy land. This is certainly one of the main attractions of this next ramble which does attract hundreds of people every week.

So many other walks to try out with the help of these authors, 44 in all, which also  includes the Yorkshire Three Peaks.  

This guide is part of a two-part volume so be sure to look out for the other addition. A beautiful, easy-to-follow guide as ever, with reliable mapping, planned routes and distance accuracy as well as much more.

Click Here To Purchase The Yorkshire Dales - South and West (Cicerone Guide)

The above review was contributed by: Jessica Roberts:  Jessica is a book reviewer for a local newspaper and has reviewed for a national women's magazine too. She has had various articles published in magazines and has now completed her novel. Jessica currently lives in West Yorkshire and enjoys walking in the dales and woodlands as part of her hobby as well as, of course, reviewing books. To read more of Jessica's reviews  CLICK HERE