Walk: Swaledale Yomp

This spectacular walk through Swaledale is varied with open moorland, waterfalls, steep rocky and exposed hillsides, river banks, woodland, walled fields and lead mining spoil heaps.

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The Route

• what3words for start point: ///towel.caked.skies
• Start Point: Muker
• Finish Point: Muker
• Distance: 13 Miles

GPX Route Map

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Walk Description

The views throughout are exceptional looking down into Gunnerside Beck, Swinner Gill and the mighty Swale. It is challenging due to the exposure and length of walk which has two significant ascents – one now with flagstone steps. The history, wildlife and sheer beauty are hard to beat.

The name Muker comes from the Norse word meaning “narrow cultivated field.” A skeleton found on Muker Common with flints next to it is evidence of early inhabitants from the Bronze Age. In the 18th century lead mining became more important and Muker was also a major centre for hand knitting during this period.

The word Swale is Anglo-Saxon for rapid and this dale was Wainwright’s favourite. The flower-rich hay meadows around Muker are of international importance and are carefully protected. Farmers receive grants which allow them to farm the land by traditional methods, without using artificial fertilizers.

The history of lead mining in the area goes back as far as Roman times and continued until the early 1900’s when cheaper imports from overseas ended the industry inthese parts forcing locals to move abroad or into farming.

The route goes through Rukin wood before reaching Keld and was named after Mr Jack Rukin, the postman who walked this route to deliver mail to the farmers on this moor and to the Tan Hill pub in the 1930’s.

Crackpot Hall is a Norse word meaning a pot with crows living in it and was originally built as a hunting lodge. It has now got grant funding to help preserve the ruins. The many tunnels in this area extend 400 m underground and were built in 1647. The ruin at Swinner Gill is an old smelting mill.

The ford at Ramps Holme Water was part of the “Corpse Way” where bodies were carried from farms in Upper Swaledale to the churchyard at Grinton.