Walking in the dales: Sedbergh or Malhamdale?
 

Next July, before I meet up with my family in Scotland, I'll have a free week. I've always wanted to go to the Dales, and am thinking of doing a 4 night trip with HF Holidays. They have 2 locations in the dales - one in Sedbergh and one in Malhamdale. I'm not sure how to choose and would love to get some feedback from people who have traveled to the area.
I'll be using public transport and will also have a couple of days to spend on my own in the area. I'll be coming from London.

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays/sedbergh

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/holidays...orkshire-dales

Hi, I live in the Dales (Wensleydale) and have had a look at the links in your posting.
I don't think you could go wrong with either, but personally I would go for the Malhamdale one. That's because you would get to see and climb up Malham Cove and that really is magnificent.
The site describes Goredale Scar as 'challenging', but I'd take that with a pinch of salt. It's a mild scramble up but my kids did it when young, and I managed it easily too.
As I am sure you have realised this is a very rural area so public transport is either patchy or non existent. So transport to and from the walk sites will be invaluable without your own car.

For transport and things to do in the evening Sedbergh is the better option

As for Gordale Scar it varies according to the weather as after rain it can be VERY tricky

Ah, I thought HF holidays provided entertainment whichever one you chose.

They do "light-hearted evening activities". Maybe dtbh means outside of the hotel, in which case Sedbergh is a town location and their hotel is close by, whilst Airton is a 15/20 minute drive from Skipton. Airton is a small village with a pub or two and has the Angel at Hetton nearby too.

For such a short break, I'd do Malhamdale.

and with your couple of extra days, you could stay in Harrogate or Skipton.

Malham - its within striking distance of other market towns where you can eat etc. Airton is a beautiful village but minute and there are NO pubs - I know, I stayed there on a walking weekend.

What do you want from your final two days? Difficult to advise without knowing.
Harrogate is a nice town (I lived there for a long while) but it isn't in the Dales and although the countryside around it is perfectly pleasant it can't compete with the Dales scenery if you want to continue walking.
How about two days in York? A beautiful city and also an easy direct train journey to Kings Cross, London.

I think I'm leaning towards Sedbergh as it looks like an easy train journey from London (+bus or taxi from Oxenholme) and I like the idea of being able to go into the village. They also have a 4 night (3 days of walking) holiday which fits my schedule better. If I went to Malhamdale, I'd only be able to do a 3 night (2 days of walking) trip.

For my other 2 or 3 days, I'd love to find another village to stay in that I can get to by public transport. Somewhere small is more appealing than York. After my time in Yorkshire, I have to get a train to Edinburgh.

I understand that I'd have a lot more options if I drove, but I'm not interested in driving in the UK on my own. It's tough enough on the 'wrong' side when I have a navigator. I doubt this will be my only trip to the area.

Sedbergh is actually a Cumbrian town although just within the Yorkshire Dales Park boundary - so in many ways you could easily spend your last 2 or 3 days in the Lake District OR the Yorkshire Dales.

thanks for all the feedback. I may still do the walking on my own, but the area looks so interesting that we are going to spend part of our family trip in Grassington.

Just wanted to quickly report that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Grassington. We were there for four nights. We went for a few short walks, visited some abbeys and castles, and enjoyed the scenery. We found everyone we met very friendly and helpful. We chatted with several other British tourist, but saw no other Americans. We ate lunch at the Yorkshire Arms - a very enjoyable experience including beginning with drinks in their wonderful lounge.

After Grassington we spent 2 nights in Helmsley. One of the days we went to Scarborough where we enjoyed a surprisingly good performance of "Woman in Black" at a local theater and enjoyed the festival weekend that was going on.

Many thanks to Morgana and the other Fodorites for their great advice! It's not on my list to return to the Dales with a friend for a longer walking focused vacation.

I'm wondering whether you mean the Yorke Arms? If so that's my favourite restaurant!
So glad you had a good time. I'm hoping there's a slight type in your last sentence and you DO intend to return to the Dales!

That's what I get for typing too quickly.
Yes, the Yorke Arms.
And am definitely returning to the Dales! That last sentence should have read "It's NOW on my list"