The Grey Panthers

From Muker to Crackpot Hall the walk is fairly straightforward, starting out beside the River Swale and walking over meadowland.
However, from Crackpot Hall to Swinner Gill and onwards the walk gets progressively more difficult.
The footpath to Swinner Gill is very narrow, with a steep drop to one side in places.
From Swinner gill to Ivelet Boards the footpath becomes progressively more difficult, with the section above Arn Gill Wood being little more than following a compass bearing over rough grass.
However, there are some spectacular views, and at the end of the day you will be glad that you put in the effort!

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!

Start from the car park as you enter Muker itself (SD91024 97835).
Cross the road bridge over the Straw Beck, and turn right past the first lot of houses. Take the clearly marked footpath over meadowland heading for the Ramps Holme footbridge over the river Swale.
Turn left before the footbridge, the follow the clear path through meadows and woodland towrads Keld.
Just before you each Keld, there is a footpath signposted down to East Gill Force and a footbridge over the River Swale.
Cross the footbridge and ascend the bank on the other side. Where the footpath divides, take the right hand fork and head along the broad track to Crackpot Hall.
Take the footpath that rises above Crackpot Hall, and heads North Eastwards along the side of Swinner Gill.
At the head of Swinner Gill, cross the old stone bridge, and then cross the East Grain Beck past the ruined buildings to find the upper footpath on the other side.
This footpath starts off clearly enough (even though it is a rough path) but then becomes totally indistinct. You will need to follow a compass bearing to West Arn Gill.
After crossing the West Arn Gill, - quite steep and difficult, the footpath to Arn Gill and Ivelet Boards is somewhat clearer and easier to folloe, - though with steep drops to one side.
Continue to near Gunnerside Lodge, where you can drop down to the minor road.
Head West aong this minor road, and make for Calvert Houses Farm.
The footpath here is reached through a gate behind some farm buildings.
Take the footpath to Ramps Holme Farm and Ramps Holme Bridge, to return to Muker.