Social walks

Please book your social walk in advance so we can manage numbers and make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable time, plus some walks may become fully booked.

Select your social walk and follow the simple booking instructions. We’ll send you confirmation of your booking straight away and more detailed instructions nearer the time of the walk.

Yes of course, but check availability as soon as possible and ideally book your social walk and accommodation at the same time, so you can relax and look forward to a great walking break in the autumn. We're offering 20% off stays throughout the festival so make sure you use our discount code when booking. 

No, social walks are free and open to everyone, but we encourage people to make a voluntary donation towards our heart of the community appeal to install life-saving defibrillators at every YHA hostel.

Yes, our social walks are open to day visitors as well as overnight guests.

No, but because of length or terrain some walks are likely to be unsuitable for young children, so please refer to the walk description and contact us if you want to check further. A few walks are specifically designed to be family friendly.

Yes, you can book places for up to 6 people on most of our social walks. They are generally short to moderate routes covering a variety of terrain that will last anywhere between 3-5 hours and will require a reasonable level of fitness. Please read the walk description or contact the social walk leader if you require more information.

We are delighted that Access the Dales will be offering some accessible social walks. In addition, our wider programme of self-guided walks includes a range of easy routes.

In conjunction with Access the Dales, we have also identified a wider range of accessible routes that are not part of the festival but are close to YHA hostels.

Some of the walks from hostels will be accessible by bus or train, so please check out the detailed information about the hostel’s facilities and location.   

We recommend you go equipped for the sort of conditions that you are likely to encounter, depending on the route, terrain and weather forecast. That usually means sturdy footwear, a waterproof jacket and a small backpack to carry your water, lunch and/or snacks. Check out our walking preparation tips to help prepare for your walk. 

Dogs on leads are welcome to join our social walks, unless indicated otherwise. Many (but not all) of our hostels also welcome dogs on their premises see our Dogs Policy for details.

Our social walks are designed to be achievable by most people and our experienced leaders will walk at a steady pace which is comfortable for everyone, with regular opportunities to rest and re-group, so that no-one is left behind. Some festival walks are shorter and easier than others, so check out the walk description and get in touch if you want to know more.

Yes, a free cuppa & cake will be available after your social walk. If you're feeling peckish, food and snacks can be purchased from our hostel cafes too.