Yorkshire Dales Autumn Backpacking Weekend

Yorkshire Dales Autumn Backpacking Weekend Malham to Kettlewell and back!

With Mark Reid FRGS – author of ‘The Inn Way’ guidebooks & Mountain Leader

Head to the hills for our fantastic guided Yorkshire Dales Autumn Backpacking Adventure Weekend. Spend a sociable, enjoyable and adventurous two days hiking across some of the Yorkshire Dales most dramatic and remote landscapes between Malham and Kettlewell.

Discover little-known paths, adventurous routes, vast expanses of moorland, taking you away from crowds and into a world of incredible limestone landscapes. Our routes will take us onto the dales, hills and fells between Malham and Kettlewell, including Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn, Littondale and Upper Wharfedale.

Camp overnight at Kettlewell in a beautiful valley campsite with great facilities on the edge of the village. If you don’t want to camp, then there are B&Bs, hotels and a hostel at Kettlewell you can stay at.*

Guided hill, moorland and fell walks with Mark Reid
Experience the camaraderie of walking remote Yorkshire Dales fells with like-minded walkers
Share your sense of achievement with your fellow walkers
Small group sizes – maximum 10 people.
Backpack and camp overnight at Kettlewell
An adventurous expedition to remember!

Experience the freedom of the fells on our 2-day Yorkshire Dales Autumn Backpacking Adventure Weekend.

BACKPACKING FROM MALHAM TO KETTLEWELL

We will backpack from Malham to Kettlewell, carrying our overnight clothing and essentials with us and then stay overnight at Kettlewell. If you’re borrowing some of my camping equipment, then it will be set up for you at Kettlewell Camping campsite before our trip starts so you don’t need to carry it (tent, sleepmat and stove).

If you provide your own camping equipment then you will need to carry this in your rucksack to and from Kettlewell.

You’ll need to carry your sleeping bag with you in your rucksack for both of the above options.

If you choose to stay overnight at a hotel, B&B or hostel, then you don’t need to carry any camping kit!*

KETTLEWELL CAMPING

We’ll be camping at Kettlewell Camping campsite just on the edge of the lovely village of Kettlewell. It has hot showers and great facilities. It is a 5-minute walk into Kettlewell, where you’ll find a well-stocked shop, pubs and cafes. I will book your camping pitch for you; this is included in the price as it is integral part of this backpacking trip.

Provided Camping Kit
I will provide each person with the following (unless you are bringing your own or staying at the hotel)

Lightweight backpacking tent
Lightweight insulated sleepmat
Stove and gas canister
Headtorch
Inflatable pillow
Waterproof rucksack bag – this is large enough to put your spare dry clothes in as well as any valuables.

Please provide your own sleeping bag. Ensure it has a temperature Comfort Rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C. If it has a temperature rating of zero or above, then it may not keep you warm enough.

DON’T WANT TO CAMP?*

Kettlewell boasts a good selection of accommodation and facilities including three pubs (Racehorses, Blue Bell and Kings Head), Kettlewell Hostel (YHA) and couple of B&Bs. You will also find cafes and a village shop, where you can get a packed lunch for Sunday.

If you choose to stay at a hotel, hostel or B&B instead of camping, then please book this directly with the hotel, hostel or B&B. Accommodation at Kettlewell (other than the campsite) is not included in the price of this trip, as camping is an integral part of this backpacking trip.

Yorkshire Dales Autumn Backpacking Adventure Malham to Kettlewell Malham Cove

OUTLINE OF THE TRIP

DAY ONE
9am: Meet at Malham for a briefing about the trip, weather forecast and gear check.
9:30am – 4:30pm: Guided hill and fell walk between Malham and Kettlewell. The route will be in the region of 12 miles (18-20 km) with 650m of ascent and descent. The route will take in the awe-inspiring Gordale Scar, England’s highest lake of Malham Tarn, the beautiful high-level path of Monk’s Road, Arncliffe and sweeping Littondale, Old Cote Moor and amazing views across Upper Wharfedale.
4:30pm: Arrive at Kettlewell and set up camp or head to your accommodation.
7pm: Meal at one of Kettlewell’s pubs (optional), followed by a sociable evening beside the pub fire!

DAY TWO
9am: Break camp, pack our rucksacks and briefing about the day.
9:30am – 4pm: Guided hill and fell walk between Kettlewell and Malham. The route will be in the region of 10 miles (16 km) with 600m of ascent and descent. The route will take in Middlesmoor Pasture, Hawkswick and beautiful Littondale, the dramatic ravine of Cote Gill, the vast expanse of Mastiles Moor and the amazing glacial limestone landscapes of Watlowes and Malham Cove.
4pm: Arrive back at Malham.

Please note: The precise routes will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. All walks will include hill and fell terrain, steep ground, limestone terrain as well as open exposed moorland; we may experience adverse weather conditions. NB: all timings, distances, heights and routes are approximate.

YOUR GUIDE - MARK REID

FITNESS, EXPERIENCE, INFORMATION ETC

This 2-day walking backpacking trip will take you up onto remote hills, moors and fells of the Yorkshire Dales, with the potential for adverse weather. The walks will include uneven ground, rough, rocky hill and moorland terrain, stream crossings, wet/boggy ground, sustained ascents and descents, remote exposed high moorland, steep ground; we may also experience adverse weather conditions.
This trip includes camping overnight at Kettlewell in autumn; campsite fees are included as camping is an integral part of the activity. We can lend camping kit of lightweight tent, insulated sleepmat, stove and gas, expedition rucksack; please provide your own sleeping bag (with a comfort rating of between 0 and -5 degrees C), personal walking clothes and food.
Camping in autumn (November) means that we may experience cold, wet and windy weather, with the potential for discomfort. Kettlewell Campsite has a heated toilets/shower room and utility area. We’ll head to one of Kettlewell’s pubs in the evening for a meal and warm by the fire.
The precise routes, including which hills, fells and moorland we walk across, will be decided each day, given weather & ground conditions as well as group needs. If strong winds or poor weather is forecast then we may stay to lower paths and valley routes.
A good level of fitness is required as you will be walking across hills, fells and moorland for two days
We will walk about 16 – 20 km (10 – 12 miles) per day with 600m of ascent each day, although this will vary with according to weather conditions and group needs. There will be rest stops throughout the day, as well as 30-mins for lunch.
Autumn/Winter weather – the walks will NOT require the use of specialist winter equipment, however, we may encounter autumn/winter weather conditions whilst on the walks (cold, wind, rain etc); the precise routes will be determined on the day given the weather conditions. This trip will not take place if extreme winter weather is forecast or prevailing; if this happens then you will be transferred onto one of our summer wild camping trips. If there is snow, then we will walk below the ‘snow line’ if possible, or choose a route that avoids any steep ground.
Mark Reid is an experienced Mountain Leader. Mark has walked over 30,000 miles of footpaths throughout the North of England over the last decade and knows the British mountains well. Since 2007, we have taken over 19,000 people out walking in the hills
Part of the attraction of valley, hill and mountain walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential hazards; however, the very nature of hill and mountain walking involves a certain level of unavoidable risk of accident and/or injury. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.
Our walks are suitable for all ages. Under 18s (minimum age 14) may attend if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The child must be accompanied at all times during the walk by their parent/legal guardian.
Terms and Conditions