Get lost in the Yorkshire DalesUnited Kingdom

The lush green valleys and rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales encompass the signature sweeping, dramatic landscapes famous of the Yorkshire region. Babbling brooks that converge into a rushing river, limestone-laced landscapes and labyrinths of caves scattered below the lush green ground make up the landscape of the National Park with each valley, or dale, offering it's own distinct characteristic and rich history.

With high rainfall in the area, the land is endlessly dressed in lush greenery and dotted with purple, yellow and white wildflowers during the spring and summer months. The scent of wild garlic fills the air during spring and delicate wild orchids open themselves to the sun's rays. Temperate weather may not be a trait of the Dales, but long summer days make for a perfect hilltop hikes that are so peaceful, you'll forget about the busy roads below. In the winter months, snow cloaks the fields with a pristine, unblemished consistency.

The Dales, which got its name from the old English word dael, meaning valley and derived from Nordic language, are each filled off rich historic stories of early occupation by Danes, Norseman and Romans. Small postcard-like villages scatter the landscape around and through the National Park, each with their own tales of their heritage as medieval trade ports and strategic strongholds in long-ago skirmishes.

The Dales are easily explored from the market town of Skipton, which also holds a few attractions itself. This charming town was voted 2014's best town to live, and is home to the best preserved medieval castle in England. A castle was first built on this site in 1090 by Robert de Romille, a Norman Baron, but the timber ramparts did little to stop the invading Scots. This was quickly replaced with a stone fortress that was then fortified and considerably extended in the 12th century when King Edward II granted the lands to the Clifford family.

Often known as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, Grassington National Park Centre, near Skipton, is the starting point of many scenic trails, varying in difficulty and length for people of all fitness and experience levels. Other scenic walks in the Dales include the lovely village walk along famous limestone pavement from Malham to the cove, or the enchanting Aysgarth Falls further north. Regardless of your destination, you are bound to be struck by the beautiful scenes of the Dales, from the tourist-frequented attractions, to the hidden places you can stumble upon.

price guide

You can experience all this, and more, on Tempo Holidays’ Discover Yorkshire tour. Packages start from around US$545.

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Tempo Holidays
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need to know

Tempo Holidays offers regional rail packages throughout Great Britain called Superbreaks, which allows travellers to combine a diverse array of available stops and sights into a single package. Plus, their flexible nature means you can create your own custom adventure.

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