Yorkshire Dales National Park Attractions

The Yorkshire Dales lie in the northwest of Yorkshire and are a particularly charming area of great natural beauty and variety. The Yorkshire Dales National Park takes in Wharfedale, the valley of the River Wharfe, Upper Ribblesdale, Wensleydale, Swaledale and the south side of Teesdale, together with their side valleys. The name "Dales" comes from the Scandinavian word "Thal" and, in contrast to the word "Vale" used generally to mean valley, specifically refers to the boggy valleys fed by rivers flowing down from the Pennines.

The Yorkshire Dales cover an area of about 645sq.mi/1,670sq.km and rise to an average height of 600ft/183m, with individual summits of up to 2,000ft/610m. Common to all the dales is their scanty population, but each has its own particular character.