Walking along the edge of
moorland to the picturesque village of Healaugh and back by the banks of the
River Swale to Reeth.
Map:
Outdoor Leisure Map No.30 /
Explorer 0L 30
Distance:
Normal Route: 4 miles (7 km);
Easy walking along moorland tracks and riverside paths..
Walking
time:
2.5
to 3 hours
Getting
There:
Catch Monday to Saturday bus service 30 from Richmond or Summer Sunday bus
service 803 from
Wakefield, Leeds, Harrogate, Ripon and Leyburn.
Alight Reeth.
The
Route: From
Reeth National Park Centre walk up to the High Row and turn left at the Buck
Hotel. Walk up the hill past the school to a tarmacked track on the right to
Riddings Farm. Do not take the tarmacked track, but cross the field diagonally
heading for a wooden stile. Follow the line of stiles through a number of
fields, following the waymarkers strike up hill
to a gate at the top right hand corner of the field leading to the
moorland.
Go
through the gate onto the moorland track and turn left. Continue to a fork in
the track. Take the left hand fork going slightly downhill towards heaps of
stones ahead. This soon becomes a clearly defined cart track
Continue
downhill towards Thirns Farm ahead , passing a cottage and turning left onto the
metalled road. Follow this road downhill to a gate that leads to the village of
Healaugh.
Turn
left along the main road and walk eastwards for almost 200 metres. Bear right at
the end of the village and cross the Green diagonally, passing the signpost
“Footpath to Reeth” on the right. Follow the path keeping close to the wall
on the left through the meadowland, until the path leads to the river
embankment. Turn left on the bank and walk down-stream over a series of wooden
step stiles.
When
the path enters the woodland, pass to the left of the gate and follow the path
uphill next to the wire fence (ignoring the stile). Cross a stile a short way up
from the river and follow the line of stiles into a field with terraces.
Continue
in the same direction, keeping to the left of the wall after the short section
of wire fence. Carry on until you join the lane. Walk along the lane back to the
village.
Getting
back: Return on the same buses.
This webpage is provided by the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group, you are advised to confirm details of bus services with operators before travelling. Please check bus and train times carefully, particularly that of the last return journey.