A dog changes the pace of a countryside break. Long lie ins give way to early starts. A day out isn’t measured in miles so much as in rivers crossed, gates opened and smells worth stopping for. North Yorkshire, and Wensleydale in particular, offers a wide variety of dog friendly walks to explore during your stay at Yorebridge House.
Yorebridge House sits right in the middle of it, tucked into Bainbridge on the banks of the River Ure. With dog friendly suites and private grounds of its own, it makes a fitting base for exploring everything that follows.
Bainbridge is a good starting point. Mill Gill sits barely a mile from the village, a hidden waterfall reached along a gentle riverside path. It’s a short walk, around two miles there and back, on level ground suited to dogs of any age. A few dog friendly pubs make a good stop on the way home. From the same village, Wether Fell offers a steeper climb straight from the doorstep, closer to four miles round trip. The path moves from village lane to open moorland underfoot, so hiking boots are advised. The reward is a view across Wensleydale that a short stroll can’t match.
Hawes has its own pair of waterfalls within easy walking distance. Cotter Force is one of the easiest, a short and level walk of about a mile and a half along Duerley Beck. It leads to a series of falls tucked away in woodland, gentle enough for any pace or paw. Hardraw Force takes a little more effort to reach, if only because it means walking on lead through the Green Dragon pub for a small entry fee. Once through, it’s a short half mile stroll along the beck to reputedly England’s highest single drop waterfall.
Aysgarth, a little further along the valley, has a path from the National Park car park. It covers around a mile in total, mostly flat with a handful of steps down to the viewing points. The path leads to the tiered limestone cascades on the River Ure that give the falls their name.
For anyone wanting more than a short stroll, Semerwater and the surrounding Raydale make for a proper day’s walking. The full circular route runs to around six miles beside North Yorkshire’s second largest natural lake. Quieter fell paths climb above it for those wanting a steeper leg.
The Pennine Way itself passes close by through Hawes, rugged underfoot in places but well marked. Joining it for a short stretch is an easy way to say a dog has walked part of one of England’s best known long distance trails, with no need to commit to the whole route.
Further afield, the Malham Landscape Trail was recently ranked the best dog friendly walk in the UK, ahead of forty nine others assessed for the same trip. Starting in Malham village, the circular route runs to around five miles, taking in Janet’s Foss, a gentle woodland waterfall, before climbing through the limestone gorge at Gordale Scar. The path continues up to Malham Cove, where a flight of stone steps leads onto open limestone pavement and views across Malhamdale. Livestock graze several stretches of the route, so dogs need to stay on lead along the way.
Leyburn Shawl sits on the edge of the town, a limestone escarpment with tree lined paths. The views over Wensleydale are some of the best to be found without a serious climb. The circular route runs to around two miles, well surfaced and largely flat, making it an easy loop for dogs of any age or fitness.
Freeholders Wood, a small nature reserve tucked beside Aysgarth Falls, offers a quieter option again. Its shaded woodland paths make a pleasant loop regardless of the weather, and a good choice when the falls themselves are busy.
North Yorkshire has no shortage of places to stay, but a holiday built around walking a dog is easier when the hotel itself is built with dogs in mind. At Yorebridge House, in Bainbridge on the banks of the River Ure, three of our suites are kept specifically for guests travelling with dogs. Kariega is an African lodge style room with its own private garden running down to the river, where a dog can settle beside you while you soak in the hot tub and take in the Dales. Rangali has wooden floors and a private terrace where a dog can wander. Jasper is a Canadian lodge style room with its own staircase and Dales views from a roll top bath. The Barn Suite sits in a separate building a short walk from the main house, with plenty of room to settle in for longer stays.
Our private grounds run down to the River Ure, where dogs are free to paddle and explore before breakfast. The main house itself stays dog free. Local walking leaflets covering routes of every length are kept at reception.
Dog friendly bedrooms and suites. Private grounds beside the River Ure for a quick stretch of the legs before breakfast. Doorstep walks that range from a short stroll to Mill Gill to a full day out at Semerwater. Yorebridge House has been built for both kinds of stay, the busy and the restful, with four legged guests in mind as much as their owners. Come back from a muddy afternoon on the fells to a warm welcome and a suite waiting by the fire. There’s nothing left to do but settle in and let the dog do the same.
Genuine countryside on the doorstep. A boutique hotel comfortable enough to make the whole stay feel like a treat rather than a compromise. It is that combination, wild days out and a quiet return, that sets Yorebridge House apart for a dog friendly stay in North Yorkshire. Whether it’s a weekend spent chasing Wensleydale’s waterfalls or a longer stay taking in Semerwater and the Pennine Way, there’s a room waiting at the end of it. A walk and a fireside spot too, for both ends of the lead.
To bring a dog along, just let us know when booking, and we’ll have Rangali, Jasper or the Barn Suite ready and waiting.
As the festive season approaches, gift yourself the luxury of time & relaxation. Prices from £640pp.
