Walks in the Swaledale Area of the Yorkshire Dales

Classic walks in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales can be found on this page. All content is free to download including map, GPS route and statistics.

Reeth as seen from Fremington Edge

Swaledale is a narrow valley with enclosed meadows and fellside fields. Famous for its own breed of sheep, it is probably the most rugged of all the Yorkshire Dales. Being in the far north of the National Park it is one of the most remote. White stone walls on the glacier-formed valley sides and darker moorland are typical throughout the dale. The upper parts of the dale are particularly striking because of its large old limestone field barns and its profusion of wildflowers. Occasionally visible from the valley bottom road are the slowly fading fellside hushes (open landslip scars) of the 18th- and 19th-century lead mining industry. Ruined stone mine buildings remain, taking on the same colours as the landscape into which they are crumbling. Swaledale is home to many small but beautiful waterfalls, such as Richmond Falls, Kisdon Force and Catrake Force, many on the reaches of the river near Keld. You will find walks in Swaledale and in surrounding dales on this page.

🗺️ Interactive map of Yorkshire Dales walks

Swaledale Route Directory

Walk	Miles	Description
Aysgarth Falls Easy	2.2	One of the Yorkshire Dales' premier family walks to the most breathtaking series of waterfalls.
Keld & the River Swale Waterfalls Easy	2.5	This walk centered on Keld in Upper Swaledale is a delight for waterfall lovers. There are four to see.
Richmond, Hudswell Woods and River Swale Easy	3.0	A delightful short walk from the centre of Richmond to woodland, open countryside and riverside.
Mill Gill Force from Askrigg Easy	3.1	A real little gem of a walk to some fantastic waterfalls. A splendid walk for a Sunday morning.
Muker and Thwaite Easy	3.3	A delightful walk to two of the prettiest and most popular villages in Upper Swaledale.
Reeth, Grinton and Low Fremington Easy	3.7	A family-orientated short walk from Reeth with sublime views of beautiful mid-Swaledale to enjoy.
West Burton and Aysgarth Falls Easy	5.0	A perfect family walk. Pity when we did it we walked in the worst weather of the year!
Leyburn Shawl, Tullis Cote and Wensley Park Moderate	5.4	A walk centered on Leyburn and which explores the beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside west of the town.
Keld, Crackpot Hall, Swinner Gill and Kisdon Side Moderate	5.7	A walk of contrasts in Upper Swaledale from Keld to Ramps Holme Bridge and back.
Middleham, Low Moor, Tupgill Park, Coverham and Coverdale Easy	5.8	Walk in history exploring the childhood places of Richard III and then find a forbidden corner near Coverdale.
Outhgill, High Seat, Gregory Chapel and Hugh Seat Hard	6.0	A ridge walk is achieved by a steep ascent that requires careful navigation.
Reeth, Grinton Bridge, Marrick Priory, Marrick and Fremington Edge Moderate	6.6	A Swaledale walk from Reeth which follows the valley to Marrick Priory before returning by upland and moor.
Reeth, River Swale, Maiden Castle, High Harker Hill and Grinton Lodge Moderate	7.2	A Swaledale walk of riverside and moor with a visit to two Iron Age hill forts.
Romans, Raydale and Semer Water from Bainbridge Moderate	8.3	Begin by walking back in time over 2,000 years with the Romans before visiting Raydale and Semer Water.
East Witton, Ellingstring, Jervaulx Abbey and Cover Bridge Moderate	9.1	An invigorating Wensleydale walk with Jervaulx Abbey and the River Ure being particularly pleasing.
Reeth, Fremington Edge, Langthwaite in Arkengarthdale, Calver Hill and River Swale Hard	9.3	A fascinating walk in one of the most beautiful but lesser known Yorkshire Dales.
Gunnerside Gill & Swinner Gill Hard	9.4	Up Gunnerside Gill, across moor and down Swinner Gill, make for a fantastic round trip.
West Witton, Penhill, Templar's Chapel & Redmire Force Moderate	10.2	Lower Wensleydale is the setting for this varied day of delights which begins in West Witton.
Gayle, Dodd Fell Hill, Drumaldrace and Wether Fell Hard	10.3	A fantastic high-level horseshoe walk from the popular town of Hawes in Wensleydale.
Gunnerside, Old Gang Mills, Surrender Bridge and Swaledale Moderate	10.9	A walk of contrasts, first exploring lead mining heritage and then across flower meadows to a riverside walk.
Thornton Rust, Addleborough, Askrigg, Mill Gill and Ellerkin Scar Hard	12.6	A very interesting walk in Wensleydale to a hill with history, a super waterfall and to a limestone scar.
Wild Boar Fell and Uldale Hard	13.1	A challenging fell walk to Wild Boar Fell followed by a scrambler's adventure to secluded waterfalls.
Great Shunner Fell, Buttertubs and Lovely Seat Hard	13.9	A remote and airy walk from Sedbusk via Hardraw to Great Shunner Fell, Buttertubs and Lovely Seat.
Dent to Hawes (Linear) Hard	14.4	A lovely walk which follows parts of the Dales Way and Pennine Way. (From my Dales Celebration Way)
Hardraw Force, Great Shunner Fell and River Swale (Linear) Strenuous	20.7	From Hawes to Hardraw Force and over Great Shunner Fell into Swaledale. (From my Dales Celebration Way)
Richmond to Reeth (Linear) Moderate	10.1	Follow my walk on stage five of my Coast to Coast walk in 1994.
Reeth to Keld (Linear) Hard	11.7	Follow my walk on stage six of my Coast to Coast walk in 1994.
Keld to Grinton Lodge (Linear) Hard	12.2	Follow my walk on stage seven of my Coast to Coast walk in 1999.
Grinton Lodge to Catterick Bridge (Linear) Moderate	14.0	Follow my walk on stage eight of my Coast to Coast walk in 1999.

Feedback and Suggestions

I am always pleased to receive feedback on the structure and content of the website. I also welcome suggestions on how I can improve the website which may include new areas to cover, new walks or route alterations to existing walks. To get in touch with feedback and/or suggestions please contact me on one of my social media links. Thank you.

(Note: Walking without proper preparation can be dangerous. Information and downloads on this website are provided free of charge; it is each walker's responsibility to check the material and use accordingly. Postscript: My walk reports are not route guides and should not be treated as such. They are written with personal reflections of my walks.)

Walks in the Swaledale Area of the Yorkshire Dales

Swaledale Route Directory

Feedback and Suggestions

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