Yorkshire Dales Campervan Routes
The Yorkshire Dales have some of the best van life roads in England. Here are four routes that work well in a campervan.
Route 1: The Classic Dales Tour (2 days)
Start in Skipton. Take the B6265 to Grassington (11 miles, beautiful Dales scenery). Grassington has a large free car park near the Town Hall — popular with vans. Walk to Grassington Lido in summer. Continue on the B6160 to Kettlewell (5 miles). The Kettlewell car park (£3/all day) is van-friendly. From Kettlewell, drive the B6160 to Aysgarth Falls (8 miles). The falls car park is £4, and the falls are 100m walk. Overnight option: the Aysgarth Village layby (wide, quiet, no restrictions). Next day: A684 towards Hawes (10 miles). Hawes has the Wensleydale Creamery (cheese tasting, café). Park at the Hawes NCB car park (£4/day). Walk to Hardraw Force (England's highest single-drop waterfall).
Route 2: The Buttertubs Pass
From Hawes, take the Buttertubs Pass (unclassified road to Muker). This is one of the most dramatic van roads in England — narrow, steep, with 1:4 gradients. Take it slow, use passing places. Not suitable for LWB vans over 6m. The Buttertubs are limestone potholes next to the road. Park at the summit layby for photos. At Muker, the Farmers Arms pub has a van-friendly car park. Eat there and you can stay overnight.
Route 3: Malhamdale
From Skipton, take the A65 to Gargrave, then the B6265 to Malham. The Malham National Park Centre car park is £5/day. Walk to Malham Cove (20 mins) — a 70m limestone cliff. Continue to Gordale Scar (30 mins) — a dramatic gorge with a waterfall you can walk behind. Overnight: The Lister Arms car park (Malham) allows overnight campervan parking if you eat at the pub. The car park at Malham Tarn (NT, 2 miles north) is quiet overnight.
Route 4: Ribblesdale (The Quiet Dales)
For solitude, go to Ribblesdale. Take the B6479 from Settle to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The road runs alongside the Settle-Carlisle Railway — iconic viaduct views. Park at Stainforth (free car park, waterfalls 200m walk). Horton-in-Ribblesdale has a large car park (£3/day) and the Pen-y-Ghent Café (excellent bacon sandwiches). Overnight: the layby near Selside on the B6479. Wide, River Ribble alongside, very quiet.
Van-Friendly Pubs
- The Lister Arms, Malham — large car park, dog-friendly, great food
- The Green Dragon, Hardraw — small car park, famous for the beer (Theakstons)
- The Boar's Head, Bishopdale — remote, good parking
- The Station Inn, Ribblehead — next to the Ribblehead Viaduct, large car park
When to Go
April-June and September-October. Summer weekends are very busy — Malham car park fills by 9am. Winter is quiet and beautiful but roads can be icy (the Buttertubs Pass closes in snow).
