8.11 miles.
Explorer Map No OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern and Central Areas
Although this walk involves moorland, all paths are well
defined and there are no significant navigational problems. On the one
section where the path is very faint, the walker can use a shooter's
track instead if neccessary.
The walk starts out along the River Swale, then climbs up past Maiden
Castle, - a prehistoric fort, to Harkerside Moor.
On Harkerside Moor the walker passes old lead mine workings, and two
prehistoric earthworks (presumably defence walls), before descending
to Grinton and returning by the River Swale to Reeth.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start out from Reeth, SE0382799282. The village "green"
is used as a car park and there is a small honesty box charge for parking.
Take the footpath down to the suspension bridge over the River Swale,
SE0318698925. Cross the river, and take the footpath West beside the river
and Stubbins Farm, to make for the minor road at SE0147598319.
Here, follow the road East for a short distance to the footpath and bridleway
at SE0201298281.
Take the footpath in a SSE direction uphill, to reach Maiden Castle at
SE0212298104.
From Maiden Castle, take the reasonably well-defined footpath that heads
in a Westerly direction to reach a shooter's track at SE0124897606.
You can either follow this shooter's track up to Harkerside Moor, or take
the extremely indistinct footpath across rough ground to the shooter's
hut at SE0103297187.
From the shooter's hut follow the shooter's track East across Harkerside
Moor to the earthworks at SE0327097231, before descending to Gillside
Burn at SE0381297225.
Here, take the track through the gate, before taking the track on your
left at SE0393997458 that heads North to another set of earthworks.
FRom these earthworks, take the footpath North East downhill to Grinton
(SE0460098410).
Return to Reeth by the footpath West along the River Swale.