Hotels in Rathmell

With no hotels of its own, Rathmell makes a peaceful edge-of-the-Dales base if you are happy staying a short drive from the action. Most visitors choose to stay in nearby Settle, three miles north, which has a good range of small inns, guesthouses and B&Bs within walking distance of its shops, cafes and the Settle-Carlisle railway station. Traditional Yorkshire coaching inns in Settle and the surrounding villages offer comfortable rooms alongside restaurants and bars serving local ales and hearty, unpretentious food, making them a convenient option after a day on the fells or exploring the Ribble Way.

Further afield, farmhouse B&Bs are common throughout Ribblesdale and the wider National Park, often set on working farms with views over the dale and a genuinely warm welcome. These tend to suit walkers and cyclists well, with drying rooms, packed lunches and local knowledge of the best routes often on offer. Self-catering cottages are also plentiful in villages such as Langcliffe, Stainforth and Horton in Ribblesdale, ranging from simple stone cottages to larger properties suited to groups or families, and give more flexibility for longer stays exploring the Three Peaks area.

Wherever you base yourself, Rathmell's position just south of the National Park boundary means you get dales scenery and walking without the summer crowds that build up around Malham or Grassington, while still being close enough to Settle for a proper night out or a well-stocked shop. Booking ahead is worthwhile in peak walking season, particularly around Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge weekends, when accommodation across the wider Settle area fills up quickly.