Group of hikers standing on a country road near a sign that says "Keld," with trekking poles raised, sunny day, stone walls and grassy hills in the background.
A group of hikers walking on a grassy path in a countryside setting, with backpacks and walking poles. They are surrounded by lush green fields, a stone wall, and distant rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Hikers crossing a stream using stepping stones in a natural setting.
Three people with backpacks sitting on a stone bench, facing a scenic rural landscape with green hills, fields, and a few buildings under a partly cloudy sky.
Group of hikers walking up a rocky trail in a rural landscape, carrying backpacks and using trekking poles, with grassy fields and hills in the background under a clear blue sky.
Group of hikers walking on a trail through a scenic, green valley with hills and clouds in the background.
Scenic countryside landscape with a gravel path and hikers, surrounded by hills and green fields, stone walls, and purple flowers in the foreground.
Group of hikers walking up a steep hillside trail with trekking poles, surrounded by a scenic view of green fields and distant hills under a clear blue sky.

Walking the Herriot Way - Yorkshire Dales

Experience one of Yorkshire’s finest long-distance walking trails, the iconic 52-mile Herriot Way, made famous by vet and writer James Herriot. Enjoy wonderful guesthouse accommodation surrounded by Yorkshire Dales National Park scenery - perfect to re-charge each evening of this 5-night small group walking holiday.

Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 5 nights
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Group Size: Maximum 8
Level: Active
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

What to Expect on Your Herriot Way Walking Holiday

  • Walk the full 52-mile Herriot Way over four days, broken into manageable daily sections with expert guiding throughout.

  • Stay at Butt House, Keld – a welcoming guesthouse with great hosts, comfy rooms, and a relaxed atmosphere.

  • All logistics sorted – we include transfers to and from each day’s walking section, so once you're here, everything is taken care of.

  • Enjoy home-cooked breakfasts and packed lunches, with the option to purchase evening meals prepared fresh at the guesthouse.

  • A sociable and fully guided trip, perfect for solo walkers or friends booking together who want a relaxed and supportive way to experience the route.

 

Explore the Herriot Way across four days of guided walking, with five nights of rest and relaxation in a warm and friendly guesthouse.

This five-night break offers a brilliant chance to walk the full Herriot Way over four days, with everything taken care of. From expert guiding to warm evening meals and a comfy guesthouse to return to each day, you’ll feel looked after from start to finish. Based at Butt House in the peaceful village of Keld, you’ll walk sections of the trail each day, returning to the same cosy base each night – no need to change accommodation or think about logistics.

With a small, sociable group, local hosts, and experienced guides leading the way, this is a relaxed and friendly way to take on one of Yorkshire’s best-loved walking routes.

Taking in the views from the garden at Butt House - our lovely guesthouse accommodation for this Herriot Way experience.

Taking in the views from the garden at Butt House - our lovely guesthouse accommodation for this Herriot Way experience.

Butt House Guest House, Keld in the Yorkshire Dales

A Base That Feels Like Home

For this trip, we stay at Butt House in the village of Keld – a guesthouse that’s become one of our favourite bases in the Yorkshire Dales. Hosts Jacqui and Chris go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome, from hearty cooked breakfasts to a cosy guest lounge with views across the valley and an open fire for chillier evenings. The whole venue is booked exclusively for our group, adding to the relaxed and sociable feel. After a full day of walking, it’s the perfect place to unwind, share stories, and tuck into a home-cooked dinner.

Evening meals aren’t included in the price of this trip, giving you the flexibility to order what suits you best from the guesthouse dinner menu each night.

Suggested Itinerary

Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!

  • Arrive any time from 3pm. Settle into your room and enjoy a relaxed first evening. Our hosts will prepare a freshly cooked evening meal (not included), and it’s a chance to meet your guide and fellow walkers before we begin the adventure.

  • Each day we’ll complete a section of the Herriot Way, with the route order chosen by your guide based on weather and conditions. Walks are around 13 miles each day, and transport to and from the trailheads is included. Your guide will bring the route to life with stories, local knowledge and support throughout.

    Route highlights include:

    • Aysgarth to Hawes – Waterfalls, meadows, and the charming town of Hawes

    • Hawes to Keld – Climb Great Shunner Fell and descend through stunning valley scenery

    • Keld to Reeth – Moorland views, historic mining sites, and remote tracks

    • Reeth to Aysgarth – Classic Dales landscapes and the peaceful Castle Bolton

    Each evening we return to the comfort of Butt House for a home-cooked dinner and a chance to relax in the lounge or at the on-site bar with local ales and gins.

  • After a relaxed breakfast, it’s time to say farewell and celebrate completing the full Herriot Way. A great achievement and a memorable journey through one of the UK’s most beautiful walking landscapes.

The Yorkshire Dales – Walk Through History and Landscape

This trip gives you the chance to really explore the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. From the flower-filled meadows and rivers of Swaledale to the open uplands and remote tracks of Wensleydale, every day offers something new.

The route passes historic sites like Castle Bolton, disused lead mines, and the charming villages of Reeth and Askrigg. You’ll cross moorland ridges, walk beside tumbling waterfalls, and follow in the footsteps of writers, farmers, and walkers who’ve loved this landscape for generations.

Essential Information

  • Meeting Time: you are welcome to arrive from 3pm. Your Large Outdoors host will be ready to greet you and your fellow participants over a welcome dinner at 7pm.

    Meeting Location:
    Butt House
    Keld
    Richmond
    DL11 6LJ

    Parking: There is parking available at the accommodation.

    Public Transport: Unfortunately, the meeting location for this Large Outdoors experience is not accessible by public transport. There is a train station at Garsdale - with connections to/from Leeds and Carlisle - which is approx. 14 miles from the accommodation by taxi, which would need to be booked in advance as taxis are very limited in this area.

    Finish Time: This experience finishes after breakfast on Day 6 - with checkout of the accommodation by 10am.

  • You’ll stay in the lovely independent guesthouse, Butt House, in the village of Keld. It’s surrounded by Yorkshire Dales National Park scenery and each room has far-reaching views. Butt House boasts a cosy lounge, a licensed bar, a south-facing garden for relaxing in the evenings and limited Wi-Fi, but please note there is no mobile telephone signal at the accommodation.

    Bedding and a towel are provided, just bring your own toiletries.

    Accommodation Address:
    Butt House
    Keld
    Richmond
    DL11 6LJ

    Room Types:
    You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
    Bed in a Shared Female Room
    Bed in a Shared Male Room
    Single Room (en-suite)
    Twin/Double Room (en-suite)

    At this accommodation there are Shared Rooms where you’ll be sharing a room with other participants - the largest room sleeps three and all rooms have either two or three single beds (each Shared Room has an en-suite bathroom, some have a bath with handheld shower attachment and others have a shower over a bath). Single Rooms are for one participant and have a single or double bed (bathrooms are en-suite, with either a bath with handheld shower attachment or a shower). Twin/Double Rooms are for two participants booking together and can be made up as two single beds or one king-sized double bed - please confirm your preference when booking (bathrooms are en-suite, with either a bath with handheld shower attachment or a shower over a bath).

  • Included:

    • 5 nights’ accommodation at Butt House - we have taken over exclusive use of the guesthouse, so it will just be Large Outdoors participants staying.

    • A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

    • Guided walks on 4 days (Days 2-5), completing the Herriot Way.

    • Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door.

    • A hearty cooked breakfast each morning, prepared by the accommodation.

    • A packed lunch for Day 2, 3, 4 & 5’s walk, prepared by the accommodation.

    • Complimentary tea and coffee provided in your room at the accommodation..

    • Bedding and a towel - but don’t forget your own toiletries.

    • The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

    • Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

    Not included:

    • Travel to and from the meeting location.

    • Dinner in the evenings - this is provided by the guesthouse. You can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

    • Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

    • Bottled water - tap water is available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

    • Alcoholic drinks - the accommodation has a licensed bar if you wish to purchase alcohol.

    • Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

    • Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

  • Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

    The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

  • What level of fitness is needed? This trip is graded as Active. The mileage covered is approx. 13 miles per day, walking this four days back-to-back, so it’s worth putting some training or preparation in - the fitter you are the more you’ll enjoy this long-distance walk. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

    Can I attend on my own? Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

    I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me? Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide meals with dairy* free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking. 
    *Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.
    This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants and the accommodation, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.

    What transport is provided during this trip? We do not provide any transport for this experience.

    Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.