Hi sbraatz -
Sorry I’m late to this, just spotted it. You’ve been given excellent info, can’t argue with any of it really, but I might add a couple of additional locale suggestions. I like the limestone dales, so would either head for Malham - it does get busy, for various reasons, but mainly because it’s a spectacular area - or somewhere less well known like Austwick or Ingleton. All are just off the A65, the main road to the Lakes heading north west (ish) from Leeds to the Lake District. Grassington is oft mentioned on this subject and rightly, but you might check out Kettlewell which has a load of cottage accommodation (or so it seemed on a recent visit) and which is further up Wharfedale (biased of course, because it’s my home dale, but it’s wonderful!).
I’d agree with Stuart (isn31c) that it’s a bit much to do Hadrians Wall and back in a day. Not impossible, but might take the joy out of it. You might try book an overnighter in the Twice Brewed pub (near Once Brewed!). It has walkable, via Steel Rigg, access to the best of the wall, west to Walltown Crags and east to Housesteads fort. Either walk back, or take advantage of the AD122 bus service. As you’ll have a car it’s only a short drive to Vindolanda and a little further to the Roman Army museum. Twice Brewed seems to be a big staging post for Hadrians Wall through hikers, and it is rather in the middle of nowhere, but it does have reasonable accommodation (not especially luxurious but everything you’d need) and a large restaurant area. Oh, and its own attached brewery, which for some, may be its biggest selling point.
Stuart is right about my antipathy to Hawes. I think this is due to a repressed teenage memory of an ill judged take away meal there in my teens, while camping along the Pennine Way. I spent a freezing night halfway out of our tiny tent being violently ill. So good memories not the first thing to spring to mind about the place! That said, I spent a wonderful weekend there a couple of months back and while the place still doesn't ’do it’ for me, I think it must be accepted that the fault lies with me and not the town itself. Well, and the mercifully long gone unhygienic takeaway!
I’d agree with Richard’s suggested places and note too that Horton-in-Ribblesdale should be avoided. Again, nothing wrong with it per se and it’s is ideally situated for the Three Peaks of Yorkshire (again a favourite area), but it is the starting point for the Three Peaks open challenge (walk all three peaks in under 12 hours) and can get busy to the point of unpleasantness, especially, but not exclusively, at weekends. Consider somewhere like Clapham as an alternative?
I think you’ve lots to ponder here and hope you can tie somewhere suitable down for your trip. If you need any further information or advice please feel free to ask, either here or by direct personal message. Have a great trip!
Ian
