ZEST LIFE'S GUIDE TO

Walking in Yorkshire

DISCOVER

Yorkshire’s Dales, Moors and Coastal Paths

Yorkshire lends itself to walking with a quiet sense of scale: valleys that stretch for miles, moor tops that feel almost oceanic, and coastal paths where wind and light keep changing the mood. For many walkers, the appeal is the contrast, one day following a river between stone walls, the next crossing open heather with nothing ahead but sky.

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park, routes can feel naturally balanced, a steady approach, a clear climb, then a broad view that makes the effort feel worthwhile. In the North York Moors National Park, the drama is often quieter but more persistent, wind, space, and that feeling of being small in a landscape that does not hurry.



Yorkshire’s network of rights of way means you can shape walks around how you want to feel, restorative, exploratory, or properly challenging. With respect for livestock and farming, an eye on conditions, and a sensible plan for daylight, it is often possible to create days that feel adventurous without turning them into an ordeal.

The air can turn cold on exposed ground even when the valley is warm. The first mile may feel brisk, then your breath settles, legs warm, and the mind gets quieter with each step. With layers ready, food and water to hand, and time built in for unhurried pauses, walking here can become a practical ritual for resilience, clarity, and a steady kind of joy.

 Yorkshire Dales National Park

and limestone country

Limestone country in the Yorkshire Dales National Park often feels different the moment you step onto it. The ground can switch from springy grass to pale rock underfoot, broken into clints (blocks) and grikes (cracks) where tiny pockets of shelter hold ferns and woodland plants. It is the kind of terrain that nudges you into moving more attentively, not out of fear, more out of respect for where you place your feet.

The Dales tend to offer walking that feels textured underfoot: grassy tracks, limestone pavements, and long valleys that make it easy to shape a day to your energy. Some routes feel expansive and airy, others are more intimate, folding through woods and along rivers before opening out again.

If you want a day that mixes big scenery with satisfying landmarks, Malham Cove can bring that sense of theatre without turning the day into an endurance test. The approach builds gradually, then the landscape shifts into a big, white arc of rock that can leave you momentarily quiet, in a good way.



For a softer day with water in the background, Aysgarth Falls often suits a slower pace. The falls create natural pause points, and the nearby paths make it easy to turn the walk into a sequence of small resets rather than one long push. 

 North York Moors and the coastal edge

The Moors can feel elemental because so much of the landscape is open: high ground, heather, and horizons that keep going. Walking here often becomes uncomplicated in a reassuring way, a clear track underfoot, steady climbs, then a drop into a dale where the air warms slightly and the soundscape changes. On the tops, you may notice how quickly your attention narrows to the basics, breath, footing, the next gentle rise. Then, as you descend, the land can feel more held. Trees and valley folds soften the wind, birdsong returns, and the pace often shifts from purposeful to unhurried without you needing to force it.

Route planning in the Moors tends to suit a simple approach. Choose a clear line between landmarks, build in time for weather to change, and keep navigation straightforward with an OS map or offline mapping rather than relying on signal. Moorland ground can be deceptively tiring, especially if you drift off the main track onto softer, peaty sections, so it helps to pick routes that match the day you want, not the day you feel you should do.

On the coast, you get a different kind of clarity. Clifftop paths can bring a calm focus, especially on changeable days when cloud, sun, and sea keep reshuffling the light. The walking often feels more linear here, with fewer decisions and a strong sense of direction, which can be surprisingly restorative when your head is busy.

If you want a route with structure, the Cleveland Way gives you a well-established line across both moorland and coast. It can work well if you like a day that has a clear beginning and end, with the landscape changing around you as you go. For a shorter coastal day with natural stopping points, Bempton Cliffs has a marked clifftop trail with viewpoints that invite lingering rather than pushing on. It suits a slower pace, binocular moments, and that quiet satisfaction of turning back when you have had enough, rather than when the map says you should.

If you are building this into a retreat-style day, a practical rhythm could be: start on the moor tops while legs are fresh and the mind is noisy, drop into a dale for a longer pause, then finish with a coastal section where the sea air does the final reset. Warm layers for stops and a windproof outer tend to matter more here than fancy kit, especially when the weather cannot decide what it is doing.

Dales

A fjord is a long, narrow arm of the sea that reaches inland, formed when the ocean floods a valley carved by glaciation. That glacial origin is what often gives fjords their signature look and feel: steep sides, deep water close to shore, and a sense of scale that can make even a short swim feel cinematic.

What makes fjords distinct compared to many coastal swims elsewhere is that they are not simply “pretty inlets”. They are drowned glacial valleys, and that tends to shape everything: the way cliffs rise directly out of the water, the way waterfalls and rivers feed into the saltwater, and the way the landscape can shelter sections of water from open-ocean swell. In parts of western Norway, the fjord scenery is internationally recognised, including the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, noted for their combination of mountains, waterfalls, rivers, and glacial features.

If you want a fjord region that blends iconic scenery with a broader travel base, Hardangerfjord is often positioned as a gateway area for the western fjords, with villages, waterfalls, and easy access into bigger landscapes.

Lakes

Norway’s lakes often feel like the quiet counterweight to the coastline. They are frequently shaped by glaciation, which shows up in the clean lines of the shoreline, the steepness of surrounding slopes, and the way the water can shift from pale, mineral blue to near-black depending on depth and light.

At one end of the spectrum sits Lake Mjøsa, which is often described as an “inland sea”.  It has the scale to hold long horizons and soft weather, and it also has a cultural fringe of towns, farmland, and food experiences that make lake days feel like part of a wider Norway trip rather than a single swim stop.

Then there are the dramatic deep lakes that behave almost like fjords, just inland. Hornindalsvatnet is a good example: it is cited at 514 metres deep, and is often referenced as Europe’s deepest lake.  That depth changes the atmosphere. Even on still days the lake can feel weighty and opaque, with mountains tight to the waterline and a sense of “drop” that is unusual in many other freshwater destinations.

Higher up, the mountain lakes bring a different kind of colour and clarity. In Jotunheimen, the plateau roads and ridgelines pass water that looks painted in from another palette, including the emerald tones of Gjende.  These are the lakes that tend to make people stop mid-journey, not because they are “on the way”, but because the landscape and water feel inseparable.

Rivers

Norwegian rivers are the movement lines of the country. They stitch together high ground, forests, farmland, and fjords, often changing character several times in a single valley. In the west, that story can be especially visible: the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord UNESCO landscape is described in terms of sheer walls, waterfalls, and free-flowing rivers running through forest towards glacial lakes, glaciers, and rugged mountains. 

Inland, the rivers often become valleys you can travel with, where water and human life sit closer together. Some of the most storied river corridors are the salmon rivers, with names that come up again and again in Norway’s outdoor culture such as Alta River, Gaula River, Namsen, and Orkla.  Even if you are not travelling for angling, these valleys can feel distinctly “Norwegian” because the river is treated as a central feature of place, not just scenery.

Then there are the high-energy rivers that cut through gorges and drop into pools, giving the landscape a more kinetic feel. Sjoa River is often described as running from the mountain areas around Jotunheimen through lakes, valleys, gorges, and waterfalls down towards Gudbrandsdalen. 

Read more about swimming in Norway

Wild Swimming Safety & Best Practice

Engaging in wild swimming can be a refreshing and invigorating experience, but it’s essential to prioritise safety. Understanding the risks and preparing adequately can make all the difference in enjoying the beauty of natural waters.

Stay Safe, Swim Smart

By following these essential safety guidelines, you can enjoy the thrill of wild swimming while ensuring your well-being and that of the environment. Always prioritise safety and respect for nature.

Experience Wild Swimming and Yoga Retreats in Norway with Zest Life

Zest Life curates exceptional wild swimming and yoga retreats in Norway, blending expert teaching in both practices with beautiful accommodation and nourishing plant-based cuisine. Our Norway retreat takes place on Senja Island, a remote gem in Scandinavia’s Arctic Circle, where rugged mountains meet sheltered fjords and wild, white-sand beaches.

This 5-day experience is designed around the rare atmosphere of the midnight sun, when golden light lingers late into the night. Days often begin with a grounding vinyasa yoga practice to warm the body and steady the mind, followed by time outdoors exploring Senja’s coastline, peaks and water. Evenings tend to slow the pace, with restorative yoga to support recovery and help you fully unwind.

You’ll stay in a beautifully designed small hotel on a tranquil harbour in an old fishing village, with a private yoga space overlooking the fjord and a dedicated dining space for our group. Apartments are en-suite and arranged for comfort, connection and quiet, with expansive fjord views that make the setting feel instantly spacious.

If Norway has been calling you, you can explore the full retreat details here: Yoga & Wild Swimming in Norway 2026. For practical questions, see FAQ’s.

WHAT'S INCLUDED -

• Daily yoga sessions (vinyasa flow and restorative practice)
• Guided wild swimming experiences with qualified coaches
• Luxury en-suite accommodation
• Plant-based meals using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients
• All yoga equipment and safety equipment provided
• Optional massage treatments
• Small group sizes ensuring personalised attention
• 15 years of retreat expertise

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