Walks in Thwaite
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Thwaite 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: Kisdon Gorge
A fantastic circuit of Kisdon Gorge in Swaledale, visiting traditional Dales villages and cascading waterfalls, exploring a hidden gill and enjoying stunning views from the atmospheric ruins of ‘Crackpot Hall’. The Route what3words for start point: ///engulfing.prompts.whistle Start Point: Muker in Swaledale Finish Point: Muker in Swaledale Distance: 7 Miles GPX Route Map explorekisdonDownload Walk Description The walk sets off from the charming Dales village of Muker and begins with a gentle stroll through traditional hay meadows, which are filled with a stunning array of wildflowers in late spring and early summer, and along the banks of the infant River Swale. Leave the main track to explore the narrow paths along steep-sided Swinner Gill, taking you past tumbling cascades to reach a beautiful set of waterfalls and the crumbling remains of an old smelt mill. Having gained height you now get stunning views down the length of Kisdon Gorge as you head towards the atmospheric ruins of Crackpot Hall. On re-joining the main bridleway along the gorge, you soon reach pretty little East Gill Force, where the beck leads you downhill back to the River Swale. A short detour gives you chance to explore the remote village of Keld with its lovely hillside setting before stopping to visit impressive Kisdon Force. Take the high-level path along the western side of Kisdon Gorge, which offers yet more fantastic open views over the gorge and along Swaledale. Drop back into Muker for a well-earned drink at the friendly Farmers Arms! This is a fantastic circular walk and, despite its relatively modest length, can easily take most of a day if you spend plenty of time enjoying the villages, exploring Swinner Gill, soaking up the views and admiring the waterfalls (or even taking a quick dip!).
Walk: Great Shunner Fell
As the third highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales, Shunner Fell is a great peak to get in the bag whilst in the Yorkshire Dales. This scenic walk starts from the small village of Hardraw, near the impressive Hardraw Force waterfall, the highest unbroken waterfall in England. Follow the well-marked Pennine Way as it winds through rolling hills and rugged terrain, offering an invigorating hike of around 8 miles. The Route what3words for start point: ///baroness.drop.rebounder Start Point: Hardraw, Hawes DL8 3LZ Finish Point: Hardraw, Hawes DL8 3LZ Distance: 8 Miles GPX Route Map Great-Shunner-FellDownload Walk Description As you ascend, the path becomes steeper, rewarding walkers with increasingly spectacular views of the surrounding Wensleydale landscape. Upon reaching the summit of Great Shunner Fell, you are greeted with breath-taking panoramic views that extend across the Dales. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Lake District and the distant hills of Northumberland. The route is composed of a mixture of well-trodden paths and some more challenging sections, making it suitable for walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. Along the way, the area's natural beauty is complemented by rich wildlife, including curlews and plovers. Ensure you are prepared with appropriate footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, and sufficient water, as the weather can change quickly in the area. The walk back to Hardraw retraces the path taken to the summit.
Walk: Muker, Keld & Kisdon
This walk takes in Muker, Upper Swaledale, Crackpot Hall, Keld and Kisdon. The Route What3Words for start point: ///unions.happening.bake Start Point: Muker, Swaledale Finish Point: Muker, Swaledale Distance: 6.5 Miles GPX Route Map muker-keld-and-kisdonDownload Walk Description Muker is a lovely village in Upper Swaledale, a jumble of stone cottages and a great country pub, all set amongst magnificent fells and valleys. The finest hay-meadows in the Yorkshire Dales, arguably in England, can be found around the lovely village of Muker in late spring. Here, the small fields along the flat valley floor are a mass of bright yellows, blues, reds and whites. Buttercup, forget-me-not, cow parsley, clover, common bird’s-foot trefoil, meadow cranesbill to name just a handful. Cut later than normal to allow the wild flowers and grasses time to seed, these meadows are fiercely protected. Please keep to the footpath and under no circumstances pick any of the wild flowers. Interestingly, the word ‘muker’ means ‘meadows’ in Old Norse - named by the Viking settlers who came here over 1,000 years ago. This walk encapsulates the Yorkshire Dales with hay meadows, riverside walks, field walls and barns, woodland, waterfalls, windswept summits and superb views. Field-paths lead up through the deep U-shaped valley of Swaledale into a narrow wooded gorge near Keld with numerous waterfalls all around, in particular Catrake Force, Kisdon Force and East Stonesdale Force; ‘keld’ means ‘springs’ in Old Norse. From the hamlet of Keld, our route follows a superb track up over Kisdon Hill with breath-taking views across Swaledale towards the high fells of Lovely Seat and Great Shunner Fell. The final descent is a fitting end to this walk with the deep valley of Swaledale gently curving away into the distance and the grey rooftops of Muker nestling in the valley below. This track across Kisdon Hill once formed part of the ancient ‘Corpse Way’. Before the church was built at Muker during the reign of Elizabeth I, mourners had to carry their deceased relatives to the nearest burial ground at Grinton, a journey that is believed to have stemmed from Norse mythology – it mirrored the journey of the soul from earth to the next life.
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. The Route what3words for start point: ///towel.caked.skies Start Point: Muker Finish Point: Muker Distance: 13 Miles GPX Route Map swaledaleyomp3Download 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.
Walk: Pennine Way National Trail
This iconic 268 mile walk takes you through three of England's finest national parks. The Route what3words for start point: ///mice.ages.improvise Start Point: Edale Finish Point: Kirk Yetholm Distance: 268 Miles GPX Route Map pennine-wayDownload Walk Description Embark on an epic journey along the Pennine Way, a majestic 268-mile trek that weaves through the heart of England's most captivating landscapes. Your adventure begins in the charming village of Edale, nestled in the rugged Derbyshire Peak District. From there, you'll set your sights northward, traversing the rolling hills and serene valleys of the Yorkshire Dales. As you journey onward, each step reveals the rich tapestry of England's natural beauty. You'll cross the historic Hadrian's Wall, a testament to ancient times, in the awe-inspiring Northumberland National Park. Your trek culminates in a triumphant arrival at Kirk Yetholm, a quaint Scottish village that marks the end of this extraordinary trail. Regarded as England's premier Long Distance Footpath, the Pennine Way is more than a hike; it's a pilgrimage through the soul of the Great North. While the path demands resilience and fitness, it generously rewards with unparalleled vistas and breathtaking landscapes. Highlights of this grand expedition include the surreal limestone pavements of Malham Cove and the towering trio of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Traverse the mysterious moorlands bordering Yorkshire and County Durham, descending into the Tees Valley, where the river guides you past a cascade of awe-inspiring waterfalls. Your journey reaches a crescendo as you ascend to the edge of a dramatic canyon, offering a panoramic view over the Eden Valley that will etch itself into your memory forever. The Pennine Way is not just a walk; it's a journey through history, nature, and the depths of your own endurance, culminating in an experience that transcends mere physical achievement.