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Free Guided Walks in the Yorkshire Dales

I don't know if it is widely known here that the Friends of Dalesrail have 1 or 2 free guided volunteer walks each Saturday from trains usually on the Settle to Carlisle rail line throughout the year.

There are no catches and please note this is a totally non tipping scenario (that is not an option and not a matter to be discussed). These walks are for the public good.

Details are here-https://friendsofdalesrail.org/walks.html

Sometimes the walks are on other local lines- especially the Skipton to Carnforth line

Dalesrail was a former summer seasonal Sunday walkers special rail service which ran from Blackpool to Carlisle (originally also with a 2nd train from Manchester), and the walks ran in connection with the train. However due to challenges in crewing the trains they were withdrawn after the pandemic. Many of the smaller stations on the line were closed for many years, and were thereafter only used for the Dalesrail service. Eventually they re-opened for general use due to the great success of Dalesrail.

A part (and very successful) replacement for Dalesrail is the new Yorkshire Dales Explorer train, a Saturday only service direct from the Manchester area to Settle and Ribblehead (with connections at Ribblehead for Carlisle).
This has now been confirmed as being a year round train, and is on normal rail fares. For anyone in the Manchester area this is a very good opportunity for a visit to the Dales.

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Also the end of April/start of May each year (2025- 29 April to 5 May) there is a music and walking festival based at Settle called Ride2stride- https://www.ride2stride.co.uk/

The walks and most of the music sessions are free. There are also a few talks for which a very nominal cost is charged.

Some of the walks are good taster chances to try the local long distance walks- the Ribble Way (Preston to Hawes), Lady Anne's Way (Skipton to Penrith), The Pennine Way (Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders), the Dales Highway (Saltaire to Appleby) and the Dales Way (Ilkley to Windermere).

This is a very good opportunity to visit the area.

Also note that for this winter the Sunday Dalesbus runs all year-from Bradford to Ilkley, Skipton and Malham; also Leeds to Ilkely to Bolton Abbey and Upper Wharfedale via Grassington- to add to walking opportunities by public transport (and to actively reduce car use).
Both routes use the £2 (£3 from 1 January 2025) flat fares.