Ask anyone who has spent a wet November weekend in the Dales what they remember and it is rarely the rain. It is the moment the lid comes off, steam lifting into a cold, black sky, with nothing but sheep and drystone walls for company. The Yorkshire Dales has quietly become one of the best places in Britain for this sort of trip: working farms with a couple of cabins in a field, old barns with a tub on the deck, shepherd's huts tucked behind a wall.

Rather than pin this to individual listings — Dales cabins change hands, close and rename constantly — each entry below describes the kind of place to aim for in that spot, what it will cost and where to walk from the door. Prices are broad seasonal bands for this type of cabin, not quoted rates, so always check directly with the owner.

Wharfedale and the southern Dales

Farm cabins above Kettlewell

Oak-clad cabins on a hill farm a few fields up from the village, with a wood burner, a small kitchen and a deck looking straight down the valley. The tub is screened by a drystone wall, which sounds like a detail until you are sitting in it at ten at night in January. Roughly £160 a night for two, with three-night minimums in summer.

Walk from the door: the Dales Way east to Starbotton and Buckden, about five flat, lovely miles there and back, or the steep pull up Great Whernside when the weather is being generous. Kettlewell has two pubs and a shop, so you can arrive without a plan.

Riverside cabins near Grassington

Timber cabins set back from the Wharfe between Grassington and Linton, usually with a covered deck so the tub is usable in drizzle. Around £140 to £180 a night. Book early for the Grassington Festival in June and the Dickensian Christmas weekends, when the whole village fills up.

Walk from the door: down to Linton Falls, then the riverside path to Burnsall — four miles each way, with a pub at the far end that makes the return leg a negotiation. A shorter loop to the falls and back suits a first evening.

Woodland cabins below Barden Moor

A handful of cabins sit in mixed woodland on the Bolton Abbey estate, which buys you easy access to some of the best low-level walking in the Dales. Expect £150 to £200 a night, and expect it to be worth it in bluebell season.

Walk from the door: the Strid and the Valley of Desolation, or a gentler amble along the Wharfe to Barden Bridge. The stepping stones near the priory are a good test of whether anyone in your group packed proper boots.

Malham and the limestone country

Cabins at the foot of Malham Cove

Small cabins and converted outbuildings around Malham village, within walking distance of the cove itself. This is the busiest corner of the Dales in summer, so a hot tub at the end of a long walk earns its keep. Roughly £170 a night for two, more at half term.

Walk from the door: the classic circuit — Janet's Foss, Gordale Scar, Malham Cove and back down the limestone pavement. Around five miles, one steep section, and crowds that thin out within twenty minutes of the village.

A barn cabin near Airton

Converted barns and barn-style cabins on the lanes between Airton, Kirkby Malham and Hanlith, sitting almost on the Pennine Way. Quieter and better value than Malham proper, typically £150 to £175 a night, and often with a private garden rather than a shared deck.

Walk from the door: follow the Pennine Way north towards Malham, or take the level riverside path to Kirkby Malham's 15th-century church. Good cycling country too, if you bring the bikes.

Wensleydale

Shepherd's huts above Askrigg

Proper shepherd's huts with a double bed, a tiny stove and a tub on a platform at the end, set on a hillside above Askrigg with Addlebrough looming opposite. Compact rather than roomy, so best for two. From around £130 a night.

Walk from the door: down into Askrigg for a pint at the Crown, then up to Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill — a short, mossy, waterfall-heavy walk that is at its best after rain.

Cabins on the edge of Aysgarth

A cluster of cabins and lodges near Aysgarth Falls, handy for families because there is usually more than one bed and often a shared games barn. Budget roughly £150 a night, less midweek out of season.

Walk from the door: the falls themselves, then the path along the Ure to West Burton — one of the prettiest villages in the Dales and, pleasingly, one with a decent pub. Bolton Castle is a short drive if the weather turns.

A hillside cabin near Hawes

Cabins and huts on the slopes above Hawes, looking towards Great Shunner Fell and the road over to Swaledale. Around £160 a night. It is high, exposed and brilliant for stargazing when the cloud stays away.

Walk from the door: Hardraw Force — England's highest single-drop waterfall above ground, reached through the Green Dragon pub — then the climb up to Great Shunner Fell if you want a proper day out.

Swaledale and the north-west

A barn cabin above Reeth

Stone barns and timber cabins on the hillside above Reeth, with views across to Fremington Edge. Swaledale is quieter than Wharfedale and the prices reflect it: around £145 a night for two.

Walk from the door: drop into Reeth for the bakery, then take the riverside path towards Grinton and down to Marrick Priory. For something bigger, drive to Gunnerside and walk to Keld via the old lead-mining ruins.

A remote cabin near Keld

The far north-west corner, where Swaledale meets the Eden Valley, has a scattering of off-grid cabins with wood-fired tubs and no neighbours to speak of. Roughly £150 a night, usually with a two- or three-night minimum and a bumpy final track.

Walk from the door: the Coast to Coast path passes through Keld, and the climb to Nine Standards Rigg is a fine half day. The Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub, is a short drive for a very good bad-weather lunch.

What to check before you book

• Minimum stays: two or three nights is standard, and many places ask for a week in school holidays.
• Private or shared: "hot tub" can mean a tub you share with three other cabins. If privacy matters, ask directly.
• Wood-fired or electric: wood-fired takes two to three hours to heat and you will need to feed it. Lovely, but not a five-minute soak.
• What is included: towels, robes and logs are often extras. Bring flip-flops and a dressing gown.
• Access: some tracks are steep and unsuited to low-slung cars, especially in snow.
• Distance to the nearest pub: worth checking honestly, because Dales miles are longer than they look on a map.

Making a winter soak work

Bring more layers than you think you need. The trick is a robe within arm's reach, a dry towel that stays dry and something warm to drink once you are out. Keep the lid on between soaks to hold the heat, shower before you get in, and stay out if you have been drinking — a hot tub and alcohol are a poor combination, particularly somewhere this remote.

If you are pregnant or manage a heart condition, blood pressure problem or similar, check with a doctor before using a hot tub, and keep the temperature and your time in it sensible.

Finally, treat the place like the working landscape it is. Shut gates, keep dogs on leads around livestock between March and July, take everything home and leave the tub as you found it. Do that and the owners will happily have you back next November.

Photo: tonlonkhu / Pixabay