Walks in Grinton
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Grinton on foot.
Walk the James Herriot Way
Fan of All Creatures Great and Small? Then, you'll love this walk. The walk is a 52 mile circular route starting in Aysgarth and taking in majestic sights such as Hardraw Force, Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle. Barns in beautiful Swaledale Route Distance: 52 miles Start location: Aysgarth, Wensleydale Finish Location: Aysgarth, Wensleydale OS Walking Map & GPX Download Our OS map below shows the full route. Under the map, you can find a GPX file download for your navigational device. herriot-way-newDownload Walk Description This walk is inspired by the walking holiday that vet and author James Herriot took with his son Jimmy around the Youth Hostels of Aysgarth, Grinton and Keld. There is no wonder Herriot loved this area so much and chose it for the location for many of his books. This 52 mile long route takes four to five days to cover and combines gentle walks through valley bottoms with energetic climbs on the skylines. It takes you through parts of Swaledale and Wensleydale, and includes big sights such as Hardraw Force, Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle. The 52 miles can be broken into four 13 mile days, each one ending in a village with plenty of local amenities where you're sure to get a warm Yorkshire welcome. The walk begins in the village of Aysgarth in Wensleydale where you can marvel at the spectacular Aysgarth Falls before following the River Ure to Askrigg. The village was used as the fictional Darrowby in the BBC TV series All Creatures Great and Small, based on the books by James Herriot. Just along from here you can visit the fantastic Mill Gill and Whitfield Force Waterfalls. Continue along the route to the village of Hardraw where you'll find the epic Hardraw Force Waterfall which is England's highest single drop waterfall, falling some 100ft.The route then heads to the market town of Hawes before climbing Great Shunner Fell which is the highest point in Wensleydale and commands wonderful views over Ribblesdale to the south west and Swaledale to the north. After descending the hill to Thwaite the route then takes in the village of Keld and Gunnerside Moor before passing the beautiful valley of Gunnerside Gill. Following the River Swale into Reeth. The route continues along to the inspiring 14th Century Castle Bolton passing through open moorland with it's stunning heather (in the Summer months). The final section takes you back to Aysgarth, where you'll be needing a much needed rest after a fantastic route taking in the very best of the Yorkshire Dales.
Walk: Walk along the River Swale
The River Swale has some lovely walks along its banks. Start this walk at Reeth and head west along the southern side before returning close to the river to the north. The Route what3words for start point: ///price.punctuate.dwelled Start / Finish Point: Reeth, Richmond DL11 6SY Distance: 4.5 Miles GPX Route Map reethriversidewalkDownload Walk Description Start in the large village of Reeth in the centre of Swaledale. Head down to the River Swale, cross at the swing bridge before turning right. Follow the river initially across open fields before arriving at some attractive woodland. Cross the river at Low Whita and soon join the path next to the northern bank. The views across the dale are excellent, typical farmland, dry stone walls, barns and of course sheep. The track leads back to Reeth.
Walk: Lead Mines of Swaledale
A lunar landscape greets the walker who ventures on to the moorland above Reeth in Swaledale. The lead mining activity that dominated the dales is evident everywhere. The Route what3words for start point: ///gain.cupboards.comet Start Point: Surrender Bridge above Reeth (on the high road between Arkengarthdale & Low Row) Finish Point: Surrender Bridge Distance: 6 Miles GPX Route Map leadminesabovereethDownload Walk Description From Surrender Bridge a major bridleway climbs steadily along the Old Gang before arriving in to the grey wastes above the river. Here spoil heaps, rusted machinery and the remains of 19th century stone buildings pepper the landscape. Take some time to imagine this area as a hive of activity in times past, buzzing with people and noise. A short detour to the high point of Great Pinseat completes an excellent and not difficult circuit from above the village of Reeth.
Walk: Reeth, Arkengarthdale and Fremington Edge
An 8 mile walk around in the Yorkshire Dales, taking in Reeth, Arkengarthdale, Langthwaite, Booze and Fremington Edge. The Route Start Point: Reeth, Richmond DL11 6TX Finish Point: Reeth, Richmond DL11 6TX Distance: 8.25 Miles GPX Route Map reeth-fremington-edgeDownload Walk Description Fremington Edge dominates the confluence of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, a towering wall of shimmering scree slopes and crags that rise sheer from the flat valley floor – our objective for today’s walk. From Reeth, this walk follows footpaths across meadows and pastures through Arkengarthdale, with the scars and steep slopes of Fremington Edge towering above and the sinuous Arkle Beck for company. The views are superb, with wonderful panoramas across the wooded valley as it curves away towards the wild upper reaches of the dale whilst to the west rise the wild heights of Calver Hill. Langthwaite is a huddle of stone-built miners’ cottages with a traditional Dales’ inn tucked away in a corner of the small square, from where we climb up to the windswept hamlet of Booze with its derelict farmhouses set high on the hillside – the name ‘booze’ comes from the Old English word ‘bowehouse’ meaning ‘house by the curve’. A delightful path drops down to the old farmhouse of Storthwaite Hall (‘storthwaite’ comes from Old Norse and means ‘clearing of the bullocks’) set at the foot of Slei Gill, which is badly scarred with the remains of lead mines. From Storthwaite Hall a path snakes its way steeply up onto the top of Fremington Edge through an area of old spoil heaps and workings of the disused Fell End Lead Mines. A large stone-built cairn stands at the edge of the escarpment from where there are breath-taking views across Arkengarthdale. A footpath leads across the top of Fremington Edge, although the views are not as good as you might expect as the actual escarpment lies just to the west of our path. Underfoot the ground is soft and boggy, with the vast expanse of heather-clad Marrick Moor stretching away to the east - the path runs alongside a stone wall that acts as a very convenient wind-break. After just over a mile, we come to the old road over to Hurst, now just a rough stony track, which we follow steeply down to reach the whitewashed farmhouse of The White House – a well-known landmark – from where there is a superb bird’s eye view of Reeth set on the gently sloping flanks of Calver Hill with Swaledale snaking away into the distance.
Walk: Grinton
This quiet walk will take you to the fascinating Grinton Smelt Mill on Cogden Moor. Take a peek into the past while enjoying great views. The Route what3words for start point: ///trailers.truly.standards Start / Finish Point: Grinton moor smelt mill, Whipperdale Bank, Richmond DL11 6HS (just above YHA Grinton Lodge at Cogden Beck) Distance: 1 Miles GPX Route Map drawaroute-5Download Walk Description Grinton is one of the 87 lead smelt mill sites known in the Yorkshire Dales. It is of national importance and is a scheduled monument. This 750m route runs from the Grinton to Leyburn road to the remains of the smelt mill and back again. The track is a compact mix of aggregate and grass with a general width of 200cm. The track to the smelt mill has some gradients reaching 1:8. There is a small add on loop at the end of the route. This requires a shallow water crossing and a short, 60m, gradient of 1:6.
Walk: Reeth
A cheerful walk from Reeth village green to Reeth Swing Bridge. While walking along the river keep an eye out for the many different birds that can be spotted there. The Route what3words for start point: ///shallower.then.gilding Start / Finish Point: Reeth, Richmond DL11 6SY Distance: 1 Miles GPX Route Map drawaroute-16Download Walk Description An easy access route from Reeth to the River Swale. Starting on the village green, take the flagged alleyway between the Black Bull and Kings Arms public houses. After 40m the alleyway turns into a tarmacked lane leading to Langhorne Drive. Turn left onto Langthorne Drive and then right at the end following the signpost to the Swing Bridge. From here the route is unsurfaced with some gradients reaching 1:6. Whilst walking along the river, look out and listen for heron and dipper on the river as well as nuthatch, tree creeper and great spotted woodpecker in the trees along the river bank.