Wharfedale is one of the Yorkshire Dales. It is the valley of the River Wharfe. Towns and villages in Wharfedale (in order, travelling downstream, from west to east) include Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington, Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale, Otley, Pool-in-Wharfedale, Arthington, Collingham, and Wetherby. Beyond Wetherby the valley opens out, and becomes part of the Vale of York.
The section from the rivers source to around Addingham is known as Upper Wharfedale and has a very different character to the rest of the river. The valleys are typically glacial U-shaped valleys running through limestone which leads to many springs, cliffs and limestone outcrops.