Swinton Estate – Swinton Country Club to the Bivouac

This is a 3 mile (one way) walk that takes about 1.5 hours on the Swinton Estate. The route is rough going in places, with some steep sections. Starting in the landscaped Parkland, the route climbs up to the edge of the moors, following the Sole Beck stream. Once you have treated yourself to some coffee and cake at the Bivouac café, you can retrace your steps back to Swinton Country Club & Spa. You could also stay the night at Swinton Bivouac in one of their yurts or tree lodges! 

Car Park at Swinton Country Club & Spa and the Estate Shop

This walk starts at the Swinton Estate Shop (HG4 4JH). Follow the signs through the walled garden and parkland for Coffin Pond and continue from there to Top Lake. Once you reach Top Lake, turn right and walk around the lake with the lake on your left. Take the second turn, which is signposted for Quarry Gill. The track will take you to large double green gates (shown on the map at [1]), which you need to go through. You will find yourself on the road outside the Parkland walls. Turn right and walk along the road with the Parkland wall on your right.

Coffin Pond

When you reach the T Junction, turn left [2] and continue along the road. Just before the sign for the ford, go over the stile on the left into the field [3]. From here, walk across the field, bearing right towards the hand gate that is in the hedge. Go through this into the field and walk directly through the middle of the field to the other side, heading towards the trees and the gate in the wall [4].  If the crops here are difficult to pass through, you will need to walk around the perimeter of the field to reach this point.

Swinton Country Club to Swinton Bivouac walk

Once at the gate, follow the track through the woodland. The track will drop down to the stream (Sole Beck) and you will need to climb over the fence at the end [5]. Staying on the left hand side of the stream, climb up the bank to the path that then continues upstream. This section of the path can be overgrown and rough going. As you head up the slope, you will find the old ruin of Lobley Hall (that dates from the late 1600s) on your left [6].

From there the track drops away to the right- follow this as it continues upstream (keeping the stream on your right) to where it meets the road (with barns to the left) [7]. Turn left onto the road, and before the bridge turn right onto a track. Cross the stile to the right of the gate and follow the path up the base of the valley, with woodland on your left. Then take a right hand turn [8] as the path follows a stone wall up the side of the valley. Sections of the field can be very damp here. At the top of the hill, you will see a stile and the Swinton Bivouac café barn beyond it.  

View from the Bivouac Cafe

Swinton Bivouac is Swinton Estate’s glamping site, home to Meadow Yurts, Tree Lodges and The Loft & The Snug. It is also home to Druid’s Temple, one of Yorkshire’s most interesting follies within the woods. It is popular with walkers, families and bird watchers.

Druid’s Temple within woodland at Swinton Bivouac

Please note that there is a charge for walking through the Parkland at Swinton Park. This is payable at the Estate Shop. You will be given a code for the lock at Quarry Gate, in case you decide to walk the return route from Swinton Bivouac.

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