11.1 miles.
Explorer Map OL30 - Yorkshire Dales (North)
A walk that starts off with some easy rambling between
Reeth and Grinton, but then moves up to the moorland above Grinton where
the lead mining industry was a major factor a century or so ago.
The Grinton Smelt Mill, with its well preserved buildings and flue,
is well worth a visit.
Beyond the Grinton Smelt Mill is a moorland covered in disused bell
pits, tips, and shafts.
On the return leg of this walk, superb views of Reeth, Calver Hill,
and Fremington Edge are obtained.
Although much of the walk is on well defined paths, roads, and shooters'
tracks, there are significant sections which take in rough moorland
where there is no discernable footpath. Great care is needed here, due
to hidden ditches and gullies, and the hiker needs to be proficient
in terms of navigation.
However, this walk is very rewarding in terms of interest and the views
obtained.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)
Start from the centre of Reeth (parking on the village green, with a
fee payable at an honesty box). SE03814 99300.
Head from the South West corner of the village green, from where the footpath
to the suspension bridge over the River Swale is signposted.
Cross the River Swale, then take the signposted footpath on your left
to Grinton. The footpath is clear to follow.
When the footpath reaches Grinton, you may chosse to leave the minor road
just before the Church, where there is a signposted footpath between the
River Swale and the Churchyard.
Past the Church, head South up the road.
There is a footpath that runs beside the Grinton Gill, which avoids having
to use the road and face the traffic. This footpath is reached through
a small gate, and you are recommended to use it. The short walk beside
the Grinton Gill is a very attractive one.
Continue on the road uphill past Grinton Lodge until you come to the bridge
over the Cogden Gill. Just past this bridge (on a sharp bend in the road)
there is a well defined track on your right. THis leads you to the Grinton
Smelt Mill.
Continue past the Smelt Mill on a well defined track, heading South Eastwards.
However, you now need to watch your bearings, as the track starts to turn
more noticeably Eastwards. It is at this point that you need to leave
the track and cross the open moorland, with no discernable footpath, heading
for the Snowden Man at SE056 950. This footpath meets up with a shooters'
track that takes you to the gap in the wall at the Snowden Man.
Note that the Ordnace Survey map used did not show the shooters' tracks
South East of the Grinton Smelt Mill, or the one just before the Snowden
Man.
From the Snowden Man head due South over the moorland, - again, no discernable
footpath, until you meet a shooters' track with a gamekeeper's hut on
your right.
Follow this track South, and then Eastwards.
At a junction in the track, take the track thatheads North Eastwards rather
than the Southerly track. Continue along Candle House Rigg to return to
the Snowden Man.
Here, pass through the wall, and cross the moorland with the fence on
your left. Take a North North East track across the moor, - no discernable
footpath, until you eventually come to the minor road at SE060 961.
Head North West along the road, to come to a wall and boundary stone at
SE055 966.
Just past this point, there is a stile over the wall, which takes you
to an unmarked field footpath. Follow a bearing of about 340 degrees,
until at SE051 975 you head due North to eventually meet the farm track
that takes you down to Cogden Hall farm.
Through the farmyard, there is a waymarked footpath that takes you beside,
and above, the Cogden Gill.
At SE050 976, take the waymarked footpath North Westwards over the fields
to Grinton.
Cross the River Swale by Grinton Bridge, then take the signposted footpath
back to Reeth.