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Hill and Moorland Walks

Matt and Dave are both outdoors people and enthusiastic hikers, and like to get their boots on as often as possible. The Yorkshire Dales offers some of the best hiking to found anywhere in the country. Nothing better than a day out in the hills with the dogs, returning home happy, relaxed and ready for a well-deserved beer.

If you planning to spend a few days in Swaledale here are some of our favourite walks.

Kisdon Hill Circular Walk

This is the classic circular walk around the base of Kisdon Hill with stunning scenery of Swinner Gill, Beldi Hill Old Lead Mines and the many stone barns featuring within the landscape. Starting at Keld, following and keeping the River Swale to your right all the way to Muker, then returning via Angram and Thwaite.

Start: Keld Lodge

  • Distance: 6 miles (approx.)
  • Duration: 2 1/2 - 3 hours (approx.)
  • Facilites: Public Toilets at Muker and Keld
  • Refreshments: Muker, Thwaite and Keld

 

Difficulty:  Medium - A relatively flat walk through fields and woodland to Keld, with the occasional incline. Returning to Keld through meadowland via Angram and Thwaite.

Map: OS Explorer Map OL30

Herriot Way

The Herriot Way is a 4-day, 52-mile (84 km) long distance path that runs through some of the best scenery in the Yorkshire Dales; including the world famous Wensleydale and picturesque Swaledale. The circular route traditionally starts and ends in Aysgarth, with overnight stops in Hawes, Keld and Reeth. This four day itinerary results in stages of about 13 miles (21 km) each day.

Along its length walkers will visit beautiful valleys, high, open fells and rolling, heather-clad moorland. The route crosses Great Shunner Fell, one of the highest points in Yorkshire and passes through a barren industrial wilderness laid bare through lead mining. Anyone walking the Herriot Way will have had a fantastic introduction to the Yorkshire Dales.

herriotway.com

Swale Way

The Swale Way is a 6-day, 80-mile (129 km) walk that follows the length of the River Swale from its confluence with the River Ure near Boroughbridge, to its source at the head of Swaledale, where Birkdale Beck and Great Sleddale Beck meet, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Starting in Boroughbridge it passes through Thirsk, Richmond, Reeth, Keld and finishes in Kirkby Stephen.

Walkers on the Swale Way will pass famous battle sites and historic parkland; walk through lush meadows and dramatic gorges and travel the length of Swaledale, considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Yorkshire Dales. After visiting the source of the Swale, the route makes a final climb to the iconic cairns on Nine Standards and down into Kirkby Stephen to the finish.

www.pocketroutes.co.uk