Route: Swaledale
Area: Yorkshire Dales
Date of walk: 16th August 2017
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 7.6 miles
Ascent: 1,100 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
I parked on the village green in the lovely village of Reeth where I made a voluntary contribution to the upkeep of the green – £2 per day or £1 per half day is the suggested amount. I walked out of the village along the road to Healaugh and on reaching the school I turned off to join a path leading uphill to Skelgate Lane. At the top of the lane I headed west along a delightful path below the grouse moors. The heather was in full bloom and as I progressed further there were some wonderful views across Swaledale
When I reached Thirns it was decision time, as I was armed with two possible routes today, one short and the other longer. The good weather made this an easy decision and I continued to follow the path below Calver Hill as far as Cringley Bottom, the halfway point of today’s walk
A very steep path (which could be avoided by continuing further up the valley) took me down towards Barney Beck, and just before the beck I forded Bleaberry Gill and located a small gate which is the key to the return route (this is easily missed, so keep a sharp lookout for it if following this route). The initial part of the return leg was rather a chore, being through shoulder high bracken and having restricted views, but after a short while things improved and a lovely path through woodland and then fields took me to the small village of Healaugh
After walking through the village I followed a signposted path down to the River Swale and from here I walked along the riverbank, turning uphill to Reeth just after passing by the swing bridge. It was a wonderful walk in one of Yorkshire’s most beautiful dales
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Reeth village green, and the Reeth Evangelical Congregational Church in the background
The World War 1 memorial
3 pubs in 1 photo as I walk out of the village
I leave the road here, just before the school, to follow a path between the dry stone walls
Looking back over Reeth
Heading uphill towards Riddings Farm
The start of a wonderful mid-level walk above Swaledale
A hare
Looking across the valley
The path follows the edge of the moorland on my right...
Swaledale
Red grouse...
Another view across the valley
Looking up to Calver Hill
I continue to follow the easy moorland track
Swaledale heather
Thirns, where the walk could be shortened by turning left at the track, but I carry on up the valley
The track leading to Healaugh (for the shorter version of the walk)
I continue along the path below Calver Hill
A down and and up as I reach Cringley Bottom
I take a short cut across the top of the bottom...
I follow the path to the right, which then descends steeply towards Barney Beck
Looking along Barney Beck at the start of the return leg - the path is 50 yards or so above the beck
After a short section through high bracken, I follow a path above the dry stone wall...
The path starts to descend here towards the River Swale
I pass by Thiernswood Hall
Just beyond the hall I leave the track to follow a path through the fields towards Healaugh
One of several squeeze stiles along the way
I walk through the little village of Healaugh
Benches with a view at the edge of the village
I follow the path down to the River Swale
Arriving at the riverbank, where I turn left
Views across the river...
Further along the riverbank path...
The Reeth Suspension Bridge, built in 2002 to replace an identical version built in 1920 which was destroyed by floods on 19th September 2000
I arrive back in Reeth at the end of a wonderful walk
On the way home I stop the car to admire the stone barns dotted along Swaledale
