Chasing Waterfalls Through the Yorkshire Dales

Just less than an hour's drive from Leeds is your first stop of the day; Bolton Abbey Car Park where you can leave your car for the day while you explore the area of Bolton Abbey and beyond.
Parking here costs £15 for the day which is quite expensive, but this also covers the overall cost of visiting Bolton Abbey and other nearby sites.
Return back to this car park once you have explored the area and eaten at The Tea Cottage before moving on to your next stop.

The 12th-century ruins of Bolton Priory are truly a sight to see and once you've parked up, you can make the short walk to explore the Priory.
While it's certainly not as substantial as Fountains Abbey, for example, it's still one of the top ancient structures in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and definitely worth a visit while you're in the area.

You can see the Stepping Stones at Bolton Abbey from the Priory and as they're a fun little activity to enjoy, it's definitely worth having a mooch over and playing in and around the water; you're sure to feel like a big kid again!

From the Stepping Stones, you can walk the pleasant 40 minutes to the Valley of Desolation Waterfall which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area.
You don't have to spend all day here as the walk to the waterfall itself is more than nice enough, but it's such a gorgeous place to visit and you can even cool off in the refreshing water during the summer months when this four-day itinerary around the Yorkshire Dales is intended to be used!

After a long walk back to Bolton Abbey, head to The Tea Cottage for a spot of lunch to sate your appetite.
Serving typical lunchtime favourites and plenty of refreshing beverages, this is the ideal place to eat before heading off to your next destination.
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10 AM - 4 PM.

As you drive further into the national park, you'll arrive at the Malham National Park Centre where you can park for over two hours for just £5 which will give you more than enough time to explore the local area.
Return to the car park once you have completed the nearby walks.

Just less than a half an hour's walk from the car park, you'll come across Janet's Foss which is a relatively small, but still utterly serene waterfall in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
The walk to Janet's Foss and then on to Malham Cove takes you through truly stunning countryside scenery, so make sure you've got your camera to hand!

A further 40 minutes' walk will take you to one of the top hotspots in the whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park; Malham Cove.
Traversing through spectacular countryside offers the most picturesque views of Yorkshire and Malham Cove itself is a true feat of nature that cannot be missed.

From Malham Cove, walk back to the National Park Centre to collect your car before moving on to the next stop of the day.

Scaleber Force Waterfall can be accessed by parking at the side of the road on High Hill Lane and then it's just a short walk through the woods to the waterfall.
As this itinerary is designed to be enjoyed during the summer months, by visiting Scaleber Force Waterfall later in the evening, it should be much quieter than during the day and you might even be lucky enough to have it all to yourself!

Now it's time to head to the town of Settle where you'll be "settling" down for the evening!
As you'll be arriving after 6 PM, you can park at Ashfield Car Park for just £2 until 9 AM the following morning which is perfect because you will be departing at 9 AM the next morning anyway to move on to the next destination!

For your evening meal, check out Sydney's which is just a 5-minute walk from your accommodation for the night so it's the perfect place to eat, especially if you want to enjoy a few drinks without having to worry about driving anywhere!
You'll find an awesome selection of tapas dishes including confit duck leg and braised pig cheek, but larger portions of burgers, pizzas and pies.
It's not usually necessary to book a reservation to eat here.
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: Lunch 12 PM - 2.30 PM, Dinner 5.30 PM - 8.30 PM.

The Golden Lion at Settle is a lovely 17th-century pub that also has warm and accommodating rooms for those looking for somewhere to stay for the night.
It's one of the most highly rated places to stay in Settle and with its inviting and relaxed pub atmosphere, you're sure to get a good night's sleep before another hectic day of exploring!