Spring 2027 in the Yorkshire Dales: Pubs, Walks and Where to Sleep
2 The Square, Grassington: Honest Verdict for Solo Young Travellers
A practical plan for the Dales in April and May 2027, from Malham Cove to Wensleydale, with honest advice on pubs, paths and rooms.
Base yourself in Skipton, Richmond or Hawes
Spring arrives late up here. Mid-April still leaves snow patches on Great Whernside, and the hay meadows above Muker do not turn until the last week of May. If you are coming for walking rather than sitting, aim at 10–25 May. Skipton suits a first visit: direct trains from Leeds take about 45 minutes, and the 72 bus runs to Malham hourly in season. Skipton Castle and the canal basin are an easy half-day.
Richmond is the better base for the northern Dales. Northallerton sits on the East Coast Main Line, roughly 2h30 from London King's Cross, and the drive west to Richmond takes 30 minutes. From there, Reeth is 20 minutes, Hawes 45. Hawes itself is quiet midweek, but it puts you beside the Buttertubs Pass and within reach of Hardraw Force, a 30-metre waterfall behind the Green Dragon pub. Book early — Dales hotels and pubs-with-rooms run near full on spring bank holiday weekends.
Which walks to do, and which to skip
The Malham circuit — village, Gordale Scar, Malham Cove — is deservedly busy and takes four to five hours at a relaxed pace. Go before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the crowds on the limestone pavement. Parking at Malham National Park Centre fills by 10am on Saturdays; the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority charges for it year-round. Nearby, the shorter walk to Janet's Foss is fine for children and takes 40 minutes return from the village.
For quieter days, try Swaledale: Reeth to Gunnerside along the river is about 8 miles, mostly level, passing two pubs. Skip the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail in spring if there has been heavy rain — the rock steps get slick and the £10-ish per-adult entry rarely feels worth it when the falls are in spate and the paths are packed. In Wensleydale, the Aysgarth Falls walk from Aysgarth village is 30 minutes each way and free.
Pubs worth the drive
The Tan Hill Inn, at 528 metres the highest pub in Britain, is 20 minutes from Keld and worth it for the drive over Stonesdale Moor alone — expect basic food and a fire, not fine dining. In Swaledale, the King's Head in Gunnerside and the Bridge Inn at Grinton both do solid lunches; the latter sits right on the Coast to Coast path. The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, 25 minutes from Leyburn, has a taproom and tours.
In Wensleydale, the White Hart at Hawes and the Crown at Askrigg are reliable for evening meals, though Askrigg gets booked out by walkers. The George and Dragon at Hudswell, just outside Richmond, won awards for its community ownership and does excellent beer. Skip the chain pubs on Skipton High Street unless you only want a pint; walk five minutes to the Narrow Boat by the canal instead.
Where to stay, and what to book first
Expect to pay roughly £90–£150 a night for a good double in a Dales inn in May 2027, and £130–£220 for a country-house hotel such as those around Leyburn or Grassington. Self-catering cottages in Reeth or Kettlewell start near £400 a week outside school holidays. Hotels in Skipton and Richmond are cheaper midweek; Friday and Saturday nights carry a premium everywhere.
Book accommodation before you book anything else, especially for the second May bank holiday, when the Dales fills with walkers and the Three Peaks event draws thousands to Horton in Ribblesdale. If you would rather split the trip, two nights in Richmond for Swaledale and two in Hawes for Wensleydale works better than one long base. Check hotel availability early — spring weekends in the national park sell out months ahead.
Before you book
The questions people ask about Grassington, answered with this month’s numbers.
Aim for 10–25 May, when hay meadows above Muker and Swaledale are at their best and paths have dried out. April is quieter but colder, with snow possible on higher ground and some moorland routes still muddy.
It helps. Trains reach Skipton and Northallerton, and buses link Malham and parts of Wensleydale, but Swaledale and the Butterbubs Pass are far easier by car. Richmond or Hawes make the best driving bases for the northern Dales.
Book three to six months ahead for spring weekends, and earlier for the late-May bank holiday, when Dales inns and country-house hotels sell out. Midweek rooms in Skipton and Richmond are easier to find at shorter notice.
