Above: Layout of the best known Yorkshire Dales.

As Dales are largish topographical features the map references provided here are a basic starting reference point for reference to your map for a clearer picture of the layout. And while Wenselydale or Wharfedale may be huge, other map references refer to small villages and hamlets which are really focal points for minor dales little more than tucks between hills. If you can supply any additions to this page, or you find an error, please drop an e-mail. Safety precautions: As beautiful as the Lakes, Yorkshire Dales and Moors may appear to the eye, the terrain is potentially treacherous and the weather dangerous. Cloud and mist can quickly engulf the hills making navigation difficult. So do make sure that you are properly equipped and clothed, and that someone knows the route that you will be taking and your estimated return time. If you intend to do cross country rambles it is ESSENTIAL to get a large scale map [such as the OS Landranger series], which shows the many disused mine shafts and pot holes which riddle the fells and dales. Think safe! Be safe!

Apedale SE015945	South of Gibbon Hill and lead mine working to south. Dale is NE of Bolton Castle.
Arkengarthdale NZ009018	On the NE side of Swaledale. Once a centre of leadmining, particularly opencast extraction.
Arndale NZ041063	Bordered by Kexwith Moor on the south. Disused mine workings nearby.
Bannerdale NY430158	Passes through Martindale Common. South of Ullswater. Village of Martindale to the north.
Barbondale SD002833
Bardale SD888860	West of Raydale.
Birkdale NY832021	West of Keld.
Bishopdale SD985850	Runs into Wensleydale from the South.
Boredale NY421174	On south side of Ullswater. Overshadowed by Beda Fell.
Borrowdale NY571030	Runs into Derwent Water, and towards Seathwaite which was once a source of very pure graphite for hundreds of years. Keswick town is nearby.
Bowderdale NY163078	The Lakes' Bowderdale is at the north shore of Wast Water near the north end. It is also part of a nature reserve. Another Bowderdale is to be found at NY675039, among the more 'traditional' dales.
Bretherdale Head NY573050	Just north of Borrowdale.
Caudale NY409110	South of Brothers Water, and to east of the Kirkstone Pass [A592]. Disused quarry nearby.
Cawdale NY488177	West of Bampton, and to north of Haweswater Reservoir.
Chapel-le-Dale SD738772
Cinderdale Beck NY168192	On the east side of Crummock Water.
Clapdale SD745709	North of Clapham.
Coledale Beck NY214223	Runs SW from Braithewaite. Disused mine at SW end of the beck.
Colsterdale SE141814	NNE of Nidderdale.
Cotterdale SD834939
Coverdale SE063832	Iron Age age settlements nearby, and was once one of the trading through-routes of the area.
Cragdale Moor SD920835
Croasdale NY096175	By NE tip of Ennerdale Water. Banna Fell to the east. Dismantled railways to the north.
Crummackdale SD776720	West of Horton in Ribblesdale.
Deepdale SD722842	This is the proper Dales 'Deepdale' on the South side of Dentdale. Confusingly there is also an unrelated Deepdale Beck/Deepdale village [SD895800] to the north of Langstrothdale and to the west of Yokenthwaite. Another Deep Dale exists over by Barnard Castle - west of the town and north of the A66 - at NY973155.
Dentdale SD731861	Once called Dent Town - since it was a hive of activity - Dent is now a sleepy village. In the past its inhabitants were famous for knitting gloves and socks, while the black fossil-filled Dent marble was quarried locally.
Dovedale NY395113	With prehistoric ancient settlements nearby this Lakes' dale runs into Brothers Water, which is found to the south of Ullswater. Runs into Kirkstone Beck which runs alongside the famous Pass of the same name.
Dunnerdale SD208941	To the west of Coniston Water and south of Eskdale. This dale harbours the River Duddon.
Easedale NY327082	Easedale Tarn to SW.
Ennerdale NY075162
Eskdale NY175002	Near the wonderfully named village of Boot. There's a roman fort to the east. Several kilometres NE of Eskdale Green there were haematite mines.
Fossdale SD863935	Leads into Hardraw Force just north of Hawes.
Fusedale NY446182	East side of Ullswater, and west of Loadpot Hill.
Garsdale SD730900
Gordale SD914645	Really Gordale Beck and the great Gordale Scar. Quite a large roman camp was situated to the north, and there are other old settlements.
Great Langdale NY306064
Greendale NY143057	On west side of Wast Water. A tarn of the same name nearby.
Grisedale SD775930	This is the Dales' dale on the east side of the great Baugh Fell near Garsdale Station. There is also a Lakes' Grisedale [NY372149] which runs towards Ullswater.
Hardendale NY582144	Really the village which reflects the name of a small valley.
Heltondale NY495205	Rather off the beaten track. Tumulus nearby.
Keskadale NY213191	West of Little Town village and at SW corner of Derwent Water.
Kingsdale SD697767	North of Ingleton.
Langdale NY652021	Part of the great Langdale Fell. Slate was quarried in the area.
Langstrothdale SD929810
Little Dale SD760810	The Settle-Carlisle railway runs through this.
Littondale SD916727	Ancient lynchet field systems can be found in the area though this Dale was largely agricultural and not industrialised like many others.
Longsleddale NY490039	Takes its name from the fact that slate was removed on sledges.
Lothersdale SD960457	North of Earby this had a woollen mill with waterwheel. Gateshead Hall in Jane Eyre is based on nearby Stone Gappe.
Malhamdale SD900608	Iron Age settlements nearby. Malham village was mentioned in Domesday Book. Iron and zinc were mined to the NW of Malham village. In the 18th century large cattle fairs took place near Malham Tarn.
Mardale Beck approx. NY487128	Mardale village lies under Haweswater.
Martindale NY435185
Matterdale NY395225	The large Matterdale Common is 2 to 3 miles to the west.
Miterdale NY153014	Home of the River Mite. This small valley runs SW-NE towards Burnmoor Tarn, SW of Sca Fell, and is west of Boot village.
Moresdale Gill NZ041047	Runs west-east and is sandwiched between Kexwith Moor to the north, and Hurst Moor on the south. Booze Moor at the west end.
Mosedale NY356321	Runs towards Wasdale Head. To the NW is Carrock Fell once a source of tungsten ore, even till 20 years ago. The River Caldew runs west-east just to the south of Mosedale village.
Mungrisdale NY364304
Nidderdale SE107727	A centre of the roman lead industry in the area. A trading 'coal road' runs from Kirkby Malzeard, NW of Ripon, into Nidderdale at Middlemoor.
Oddendale NY594140	A village reflecting the name of this small valley.
Overdale SD835709
Oxendale NY269051	North of Blisco Pike and Wrynose Fell.
Patterdale NY391160	Small village on south shore of Ullswater, therefore more of a Lakes' Dale.
Ravenstonedale NY723038	At the foot of the Howgills . Nearby lead mining in the early 19th century.
Raydale SD905855	Runs towards Semer Water.
Ribblesdale SD813591	Running SE from Settle this dale is home to the River Ribble.
Randale Beck NY467120	Just a few yards north of Riggindale. Small fort near Whether and Bucks Crags, with Kidsty Pike to SW.
Rannerdale NY167187	On the east side of Crummock Water. Home to River Beck with Wandope Hill to NE.
Riggindale NY467115	On the west side of Haweswater at the south end. Overlooked by crags at south.
Scandale / Scandale Beck NY379065	To the north of Ambleside an old packhorse route runs through this Lakes' dale.
Silverdale SD839704	There are several potholes nearby to the east on Fountains Fell.
Sleddale SD860870	Confusingly there is also a Great Sled Dale at SD847000 on the north side of Angram Common.
Smardale NY740081
Stockdale Beck SD850634	Overshadowed by the Attermire, Settle and Great Scars. There is also a Stock Dale [SD865980] west of Muker.
Stonesdale Moor NY885040	Stonesdale Beck runs into the River Swale to the south.
Swaledale SE001984	Runs towards Richmond. One of the largest dales it aas a centre of roman lead mining, and up to 19th century. Ore veins mainly on the north side with names like 'Old Rake Vein'.
Swindale Beck NY520136	East of Haweswater Reservoir.
Thixendale SE842609	Very much a farming based community and base of the Sledmere Estate.
Uldale NY253368	North of Over Water lake and Latrigg Hill. There's a roman camp a couple of kilometres to the south. There's another Uldale at SD740961 to the north of Baugh Fell.
Wandale SD710985	Runs south towards the River Rawthey.
Wasdale NY187086	On the packhorse route from Seathwaite where graphite was mined, and also one of the birthplaces of rockclimbing with the 55ft ascent of the famous Napes Needle by W P Haskett-Smith in 1886.
Weasdale NY688030
Wensleydale SE028887	Another of the big ones, this dale runs between Hawes in the west and Leyburn to the east. Once known as Yordale.
Wharfedale SD930780 to SE020626	Another of the bigger dales. Was a centre of roman lead production. Contains the River Wharf which runs down towards Ilkley and Otley to the south end.
Whitsun Dale NY849037	To SE of Kirkby Stephen running alongside Mallerstang Common and bordering Birkdale Common.
Widdale SD825889	Runs SW-NE. Couple of small tarns nearby to west. Wold Fell rises at the SE end and Widdale Fell on NW side at SD80288.
Willdale NY489171	Just south of Cawdale at the north end of Haweswater. Runs from Bampton Common.
Woodale SE023792
Woundale NY411073	North of Troutbeck village. To east of the A592 as it becomes Kirkstone Pass.
	The North Yorkshire Moors also have their quota of 'Dales'... Commondale [clay], Westerdale, Fangdale, Farndale, Rosedale, Wheeldale [excellent roman road nearby], Langdale, Bransdale, Bilsdale, Kildale [whinstone], Glaisdale.

If you're one of the frequent visitors directed to this page by a search engine, take a moment to look around the rest of the website. We also have a piece on the history of Britain's landscape within this 'Places to Visit' section.