Building the Dales 30 Website

Building the Dales 30 Website: A Simple, Flexible Approach Using Custom ACF Fields

When we built the Dales 30 WordPress website the goal was to create something lightweight, easy to update and completely future‑proof. The client needed a way to add new mountains without touching code or page builders and they wanted each mountain to automatically appear on the map and in the list view.

Rather than using a heavy page builder or a complicated plugin we built the site around a clean, structured system using Custom Post Types and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF). This gave the client a simple, intuitive way to add new content while keeping the design and layout perfectly consistent.

A Website Built Around Their Content

Each mountain in the Dales 30 challenge has its own details: height, location, description and imagery. Instead of forcing the client to fit all of that into a standard WordPress post we created a dedicated content type just for the mountains.

This means:

• Every mountain has its own entry in the dashboard
• The editing screen only shows the fields they actually need
• The layout stays consistent no matter who adds the content

It’s a much cleaner experience than trying to manage everything through pages or posts.

Custom Fields That Keep Everything Simple

To make the site easy to update we added a small set of custom fields using ACF. These fields guide the client through exactly what to enter; no guesswork, no risk of breaking the layout.

For example:

• A field for the mountain’s height
• A field for its location
• A field for the map coordinates
• A field for the featured image
• A field for the route description

The client simply fills in the boxes and the website handles the rest.

Automatic Display Across the Website

One of the biggest advantages of this approach is that the client only needs to add the information once. As soon as a new mountain is published it automatically appears:

• In the full Dales 30 list
• On the interactive map
• In any related sections across the site

There’s no duplication and no manual updates. The website stays organised and up to date without extra work.

A Lightweight, Future‑Proof Build

Because the site is built on clean WordPress foundations rather than heavy plugins it loads quickly and is easy to maintain. If the client ever wants to expand the site — add new features, new content types, or new map views — the structure is already in place.

This approach gives them:

• A fast, reliable website
• A simple editing experience
• A system that can grow with them
• Full control without technical knowledge

It’s the kind of build that quietly does its job and makes life easier for the people using it.

Why This Matters for Business Owners

Many businesses come to us with the same problem: they want a website they can update themselves but they don’t want to worry about breaking anything. The Dales 30 project is a great example of how thoughtful structure and custom fields can give clients confidence and control.

It’s not about adding complexity - it’s about removing it.