I didn't mean to scare you, and I apologise for doing so - yes, you can avoid the steep Rosedale road. Rosedale is a thriving little village and as it has a village store, pubs etc it will have delivery vans and lorries going in and out. The village even has a bus service! Believe me, they won't be going up and down the Bank if they don't have to!
Agree with Janis - have your sat nav but use common sense too and if you see the sign to that road ahead (it does warn you on road signs), seek an alternative!
I have never known fog in July up there, although I have known rain. Lots of rain! But we were there several times last summer and it was glorious. We often start our walks from the village centre as it's usually easy to park, and then reward ourselves with a big slab of cake from the tearooms.
To finally put your mind at rest I would contact the B&B and tell them which direction you are coming from to their property. I am sure they too will tell you the best route that avoids the Chimney.
I have memories of those hills in San Francisco! Bad enough walking up them!

janisj: I bought the Michelin road atlas and am sending the big maps back. You were right (and thank you, again); the atlas is much better, and I've already been studying it.

Morgana: So, yes, I'll have the road atlas with me along with the GPS. And I will ask Ian at the B & B for directions. The B&B is Severnford and up the hill from the village. That Chimney Bank road may be necessary for just a short stretch, but I'll find out for sure.

You've all been so helpful in my planning. Thanks so much. I'm sure I'll have a wonderful adventure.

Susan

I just looked up the B&B -- no you don't need to drive the Chimney Bank - you can drive in from the direction of the village.

That's a relief. Thanks, janisj. :-)

I have decided to stay 2 nights in Rosedale Abbey. I just decided that the Yorkshire Moors are of more value to me than York, which I've visited before. Really, I only need time to visit the Shambles a bit and the Minster, and perhaps walk around the wall (though I did all three last time). I'm happy with this decision. In Rosedale Abbey, I will have a lovely room overlooking the moors. If I had kept the other plan, I would've been in York on a summer weekend. For someone who doesn't like crowds, not good.

I DID appreciate your feedback, but two nights in York kept nagging me. It seems like too much for a touristy town.

Now I need to find a new accommodation to book in York, as my B & B has a 2 night minimum. So if any of you know of a place (outside the town center -- I'm driving and would prefer being just outside the wall).

Good decision in my book. I hate crowds too. Rosedale can be fairly busy on a summer weekend but the vast majority of people will disappear by late afternoon.
In July you'll get long days so you can walk in the evenings whilst it is still daylight. This walk is one of our favourites - http://www.dalesman.co.uk/walks/rose...and-north-dale

bookmarking

Looks like a fabulous walk, Morgana, and the place names made me titter - appeals to my childish side.

One of the classic British seaside walks goes along the rugged coast from Scarborough to Whitby

https://www.google.com/search?q=scar...=1600&bih=1074

Morgana: Thanks so much! I have another question for you, since I believe you live in the Dales. I think I messed up! I'm not staying in the Dales at all! Here's what I can do. Maybe on my way from Keswick to Haworth I could stop for lunch in the Dales. Can you recommend a route? I was thinking maybe a stop in Hawes (or another place?) I'm planning to stop at Fountains Abbey for lunch, on my way to Rosedale Abbey (from Haworth).

Thanks, PalenQ!

Yes, I live in the Dales, in Wensleydale, but we have a caravan and travel all over North Yorkshire (and beyond). We spend a lot of long weekends in the Moors and know the area very well.
My husband would laugh if he knew I was being asked for route advice - I'm hopeless I'm afraid and my sat nav is my best friend.
Fountains has a café but I've never eaten there.
If someone suggests a route for you I can probably advise somewhere good for you to lunch. The food up here is terrific, lots of local produce and some excellent pubs and restaurants.

I enjoyed walking to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal gardens from Ripon, a lovely market town - the trails go first along the river and through a forest and then on a broad road that leads straight to some gates and you walk thru Studely Royal's park to the abbey and gardens.

Quite a long hike however of 3-4 miles or so - but a nice approach.

Harrogate is a lovely spa town at the foot of the Dales - the old thermal places are still there and there is a Betty's Tea Cafe (or whatever they call it) in Harrogate - worth a stop if heading for the Dales.

I still remember the T-shirt being hawked at the Harrogate tourist info center - showing sheep on it and the words "Off the to Dales".

Morgana: Maybe stopping in Hawes for lunch? (from the Lake District). It's a bit off the beaten path -- there are faster ways to get to Haworth from Keswick, but I don't mind slowing down a bit to take in some new scenery. After lunch, maybe I could take a stroll through the dales, if there are paths leading from the town of Hawes, before heading off for Haworth. It's a thought.

PalenQ: yes, I saw the National trust site for Fountains (which also includes Studley). So glad I stumbled on the site! I will definitely try to do both, en route to the North York Moors.

Two Bettys in Harrogate! One right in the centre and another on the outskirts, at Harlow Carr botanical gardens.
You can indeed walk to Fountains from Ripon (which is a city not a town) and a lot of the parkland is open public space. However, Studley Royal Watergardens and the Abbey itself is in the care of the National Trust and you have to pay an entry fee. Think it's about £8.50 per adult.

I'm thinking of buying an annual membership to Royal Oak, which will get me into all the national trust sites for free with no waiting in line. Someone on this forum told me about it.

Looking at Hawes just now, I think lunch there -- maybe at the creamery with a sample of cheeses, as well, plus a walk afterwards -- will be the perfect break on my way to Haworth.

A possible route could be Keswick, Kendal, Sedbergh, Hawes, Kettlewell, Grassington, Skipton, Keighley, Haworth.

Plenty of tea shops, cafes, or pubs for meals and snacks en route.

Kettlewell and Grassington are nice.

sofarsogood: Thank you so much!! I will definitely save this information. Looks great!

Keighley - when I got there I was calling it "keely: like one would have thunk - but a local said 'you mean Keethly' - like Keeth-lee - surprised me.

to feel the beating heart and soul of the Lake District take a look at this twitter feed from a local shepherd

https://twitter.com/herdyshepherd1

if you struggle with Keighley P maybe you would like a crack at Guiseley, another local town.