In photos: the best views in the Yorkshire Dales

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We’ve put together a selection of the best views in Yorkshire Dales National Park, home to some of England’s prettiest landscapes

Having just moved to the area and started our exploration of the Yorkshire Dales in earnest, we thought it appropriate to share some of the wider scenery the Dales have to offer.

Yorkshire Dales National Park (YDNP) was designated in 1954 and extended by 24% in 2016 to cover 2,178 km2 in total. YDNP is famed for having some of the finest limestone landscapes in the UK with crags, pavements and caves set amid an expansive heather moorland of rolling hills and dramatic waterfalls, all criss-crossed with miles of dry stonewalls and picturesque villages.

The park attracts over 3.5 million visitors every year looking to explore the beautiful scenery be it by foot, cycle or kayak – to name just a few of the available options. With that in mind, we’ve put together a selection of the best views in the Yorkshire Dales.

17 best views in the Yorkshire Dales

We’ve selected 17 photos of the best views in the Yorkshire Dales, clearly plotted on a Google Map, making it easy to plan your sightseeing.

1. Ribblehead Viaduct

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Ribblehead Viaduct 2
Dreamstime Ribblehead Viaduct is a striking blend of nature and industry

2. Malham Cove (and beck)

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Malham Cove beck
Dreamstime Malham Beck runs beneath the 70m (230ft) limestone cliff of Malham Cove

3. Top of Malham Cove

Malham Cove is one of best views in the Yorkshire Dales
Atlas & Boots The view across the limestone pavement from the top of Malham Cove

4. Crackpot Hall

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Crackpot Hall
Dreamstime The ruins of Crackpot Hall and the views over Swaledale

5. Aysgarth Falls

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Aysgarth Falls
Dreamstime The stepped waterfalls at Aysgarth are probably the best known in Yorkshire

6. Kilnsey Crag

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Dreamstime Kilnsey Crag is a distinctive overhanging cliff near the village of Kilnsey

7. Bolton Abbey

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Bolton Abbey
Dreamstime Situated by the River Wharfe are the ruins of Bolton Abbey

8. Buttertubs Pass

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Dreamstime The winding high road of Buttertubs Pass crosses the moorland between Wensleydale and Swaledale

9. Pen-y-ghent

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Dreamstime Pen-y-ghent is the smallest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks at 694m (2,277ft)

10. Pendragon Castle

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Pendragon Castle
Dreamstime The fairytale ruin of Pendragon Castle has been linked to King Arthur

11. Ingleton Waterfalls

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Thornton Force 2
Dreamstime Thornton Force is just one of the falls on the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail

12. Burnsall

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Burnsall
Dreamstime The picturesque village of Burnsall lies on the River Wharfe ringed by dramatic fells

13. Muker meadows

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Dreamstime The idyllic Muker hay meadows and barns of Swaledale

14. Bolton Castle

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Bolton Castle
Dreamstime Not to be confused with Bolton Abbey, Bolton Castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the country

15. Scales Moor

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Dreamstime Scales Moor is a limestone plateau located between the mountains of Whernside and Ingleborough

16. Scaleber Force

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Scaleber Force
Dreamstime The atmospheric Scaleber Force waterfall is located in a deep wooded gorge near Settle

17. Richmond Town

best views in the Yorkshire Dales Richmond
Dreamstime Richmond isn’t actually in the national park, but we live there and love it!

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Lead image: Dreamstime

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