9 lovely ways to enjoy time in Swaledale!
James Herriot wrote about Swaledale: "on the empty moors, with the curlews crying, I have been able to find peace and tranquillity. It is a land of pure air, rocky streams and hidden waterfalls.”
1. Start with an introduction to the area and its history so you can spot landscape and architectural features and understand why they're how they are - visit Swaledale Museum & Keld Resource Centre
2. Find some of the locations from the original series of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small such as the water splash
3. Notice the differences between Swaledale and other dales, especially the smaller, enclosed fields and cow'uses (like field barns elsewhere) and see if you can spot the local sheep breed - the Swaledale, which is the emblem of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
4. If you're there at the right time of year, stand and stare at the beauty of the hay meadows
5. Enjoy a walk (the Pennine Way, Coast-to-Coast pass through this area, and there are countless other walks from the Swale Trail to the Keld waterfall walk. Pls tell about your favourites!)
6. Get an insight into Swaledale life and watch proud farmers showing their stock at Reeth Show and Muker Show
7. Look for evidence of former lead mines such as at Grinton Smelt Mill
8. Follow the old Corpse Way, now a beautiful walk but once the route coffin-bearers had to carry their sad loads to bury loved ones in consecrated ground, often several miles from home
9. Visit Swaledale's only town of Richmond, and explore each of the lovely villages such as Muker, Reeth, Keld, Grinton, and Thwaite
What other Swaledale activities do you recommend? Pls do share your photos!