The riding country
The Yorkshire Dales is hill and valley riding on a grand scale. Green dales rise to limestone scars and open moorland tops, threaded with bridleways, green lanes and old drovers' roads that make for proper days out on horseback. Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Swaledale each have their own character, and the going changes quickly as you climb, from soft dale-bottom pasture to firm moorland track.
This is some of the best off-road riding in the north of England, and the network of green lanes means you can often link a long ride together without much time on tarmac. The scenery does the rest.
Riding without your own horse
Trekking and riding centres around the Dales run accompanied rides out onto the fells and through the valleys, which is the simplest way to ride here if you are visiting. Rides are matched to ability, usually on hardy types bred for the ground and the weather. The half-day and full-day options are worth it, because the landscape opens up the further you get from the road.
You can see riding schools and trekking centres across North Yorkshire on Saddl, or search for trekking yards near you. The racing country around Middleham adds its own character, with strings of horses exercising on the moor.
Bringing your own horse
For your own horse, the Dales reward fitness and sure feet. The climbs are real, the weather changes fast, and the moorland tops are exposed, so go prepared and check the forecast. Ground is heavy in the dale bottoms after rain and firmer up high. A map and a sense of the bridleway network pay off, as the green lanes are not always obvious on the ground.
When to go
Late spring through to autumn is the sweet spot, with the longest days and the best of the going. Summer is busy with walkers on the popular routes, so early starts help. Winter riding is for the hardy: short days, raw weather off the tops, and heavy ground below. On a clear day, in any season, there are few better places in England to ride out.