28th July 2024 - Gunnerside Gill and Great Pinseat
Walk Details
Distance walked: 13.2 miles
Total ascent: 2596 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Gunnerside-Lodge Green-Whin Hall-Gunnerside Gill-Bunton Hush-Melbecks Moor-Level House Bridge-Flincher Gill-Forefield Rake-Great Pinseat-Surrender Ground-Reeth High Moor-Surrender Bridge-Feetham Pasture-Blades-Low Row-Isles Bridge-Gunnerside
With a day of lovely summer weather forecast I decided to make the effort to head all the way up to Swaledale for a walk, my second one this year. Starting from Gunnerside, the route that I worked out took in Gunnerside Gill and its abandoned mine workings, Melbecks Moor and Great Pinseat, then across Reeth High Moor down to Surrender Bridge, and back to Gunnerside via Low Row and Swaledale. Since I haven't done that much walking in Swaledale the whole of the route was new to me, which doesn't happen that often nowadays, and that made it a joy to do just seeing things for the first time. I had hoped to park my car in Gunnerside, but with no sensible place for me to put it I parked up on the other side of Gunnerside New Bridge, on the wide verge at the junction with the lane to Spring End. I had a beautiful summer's day for this walk; blue skies, sunny spells, fair weather clouds, and with good visibility there were great moorland views to enjoy.
After parking my car by the side of the road above Gunnerside New Bridge, I walked down the road, across the bridge, and to the village of Gunnerside. I briefly walked along the road towards Low Row before taking a bridleway up a track on the left, which I followed up the hillside, then a footpath on the left up between walls to another footpath, which I took across to a lane up from Gunnerside. After walking to the top of the lane I took a bridleway all the way up Gunnerside Gill to the disused mine workings, then a bridleway up Bunton Hush, across the top of Melbecks Moor, and down to Level House Bridge, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I took the bridleway up Flincher Gill and Forefield Rake onto the moorland beneath Great Pinseat to a large cairn, which was where I left the bridleway to visit the trig point on Great Pinseat. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to the bridleway and followed it southeast along a track down to a road, which I walked down to Surrender Bridge. I crossed Surrender Bridge and walked up the road until I reached a footpath on the right, which I took across the hillside of Feetham Pasture and down to the hamlet of Blades, and the lane up to it from Low Row. Across the lane I took a footpath down through fields, passing Turnip House, to a track and bridleway, which I briefly followed downhill before taking a footpath on the right down to the B6270 opposite the lane down to Isles Bridge. After walking down the lane to Isles Bridge I took the footpath west by the north bank of the River Swale to the B6270, walked a short distance along the road, then took the footpath west by the Swale and then through fields to Gunnerside. Once back in Gunnerside I retraced my steps to where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 2596 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 7 hrs
Route description: Gunnerside-Lodge Green-Whin Hall-Gunnerside Gill-Bunton Hush-Melbecks Moor-Level House Bridge-Flincher Gill-Forefield Rake-Great Pinseat-Surrender Ground-Reeth High Moor-Surrender Bridge-Feetham Pasture-Blades-Low Row-Isles Bridge-Gunnerside
With a day of lovely summer weather forecast I decided to make the effort to head all the way up to Swaledale for a walk, my second one this year. Starting from Gunnerside, the route that I worked out took in Gunnerside Gill and its abandoned mine workings, Melbecks Moor and Great Pinseat, then across Reeth High Moor down to Surrender Bridge, and back to Gunnerside via Low Row and Swaledale. Since I haven't done that much walking in Swaledale the whole of the route was new to me, which doesn't happen that often nowadays, and that made it a joy to do just seeing things for the first time. I had hoped to park my car in Gunnerside, but with no sensible place for me to put it I parked up on the other side of Gunnerside New Bridge, on the wide verge at the junction with the lane to Spring End. I had a beautiful summer's day for this walk; blue skies, sunny spells, fair weather clouds, and with good visibility there were great moorland views to enjoy.
After parking my car by the side of the road above Gunnerside New Bridge, I walked down the road, across the bridge, and to the village of Gunnerside. I briefly walked along the road towards Low Row before taking a bridleway up a track on the left, which I followed up the hillside, then a footpath on the left up between walls to another footpath, which I took across to a lane up from Gunnerside. After walking to the top of the lane I took a bridleway all the way up Gunnerside Gill to the disused mine workings, then a bridleway up Bunton Hush, across the top of Melbecks Moor, and down to Level House Bridge, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I took the bridleway up Flincher Gill and Forefield Rake onto the moorland beneath Great Pinseat to a large cairn, which was where I left the bridleway to visit the trig point on Great Pinseat. Once I'd taken in the view I returned to the bridleway and followed it southeast along a track down to a road, which I walked down to Surrender Bridge. I crossed Surrender Bridge and walked up the road until I reached a footpath on the right, which I took across the hillside of Feetham Pasture and down to the hamlet of Blades, and the lane up to it from Low Row. Across the lane I took a footpath down through fields, passing Turnip House, to a track and bridleway, which I briefly followed downhill before taking a footpath on the right down to the B6270 opposite the lane down to Isles Bridge. After walking down the lane to Isles Bridge I took the footpath west by the north bank of the River Swale to the B6270, walked a short distance along the road, then took the footpath west by the Swale and then through fields to Gunnerside. Once back in Gunnerside I retraced my steps to where I'd parked my car.
Route map
The River Swale as I cross Gunnerside New Bridge..
The hillside of Gunnerside Pasture as I walk along the road to Gunnerside
In the village of Gunnerside
Looking back down to Gunnerside and Swaledale as I take the bridleway up the hillside of Lodge Green..
I leave the bridleway for a footpath up the hillside between walls
Looking back across Swaledale
and across Gunnerside Gill, and up Swaledale
The footpath I'm on reaches the lane that has come up the hillside from Gunnerside. I'm going to walk up to its top and then take a bridleway that crosses the hillside ahead.
Looking across the foot of Gunnerside Gill and Swaledale to the moorland of Oxnop Side and Muker Common
From the top of the lane I take the bridleway along the track to Whin Hall..
..and then north across the hillside above Gunnerside Gill...
The scars and tips of the disused mines
Along with ruined buildings
The ruins of Lownathwaite Lead Mines and North Hush
Looking down Gunnerside Gill
I leave Gunnerside Gill by taking the bridleway up Bunton Hush
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Looking back across Gunnerside Gill to North Hush
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Nearing the top of Bunton Hush
Onto the top of Melbecks Moor and amongst the lunar landscape of the spoil heaps and bare ground of lead mining. Taking in the view to the south across Swaledale, and I can make out the tops of Buckden Pike and Great Whernside in the distance on the left.
Looking across the top of Ivelet Moor to Great Shunner Fell in the distance
Heading east along the bridleway across Melbecks Moor
Passing a piece of long abandoned mine machinery
Making my way through the disused Old Gang Mines, and down into Hard Level Gill...
I reach the end of the bridleway at Level House Bridge. Here I'll turn left and take the bridleway up Flincher Gill.
Heading up Flincher Gill
I pass the double entrance to Brandy Bottle Incline
Looking back down Flincher Gill
From the top of Flincher Gill I follow the bridleway up Forefield Rake and onto the moorland of Great Pinseat
Looking back along Forefield Rake and across the top of Flincher Gill to the scar of Friarfold Rake on Friarfold Moor
At the cairn that marks the top of the bridleway across the moor. The trig point on Great Pinseat is just a short walk away to the north.
At the trig point on Great Pinseat..
To the northwest, Arkengarthdale Moor with the North Pennines in the distance
Looking across Arkengarthdale to Cleasby Hill, Faggergill Moor, and Hoove
Fremington Edge and Calver Hill to the east
The tops of Great Whernside and Buckden Pike in the distance to the south
Finally, a carpet of Bog Asphodel in flower, with the tops of Lovely Seat and Great Shunner Fell in the distance
I've returned to the top of the bridleway from the trig point, and follow it southeast down the moor..
Looking east to Fremington Edge and Calver Hill
Heading south along the road to Surrender Bridge
Old Gang Beck from Surrender Bridge..
Surrender Bridge
A bit further up the road and I can see the ruins of Surrender Mill
Whitaside Moor on the other side of Swaledale as I reach as far south along the road down to Feetham as I'm going
I leave the road and take the footpath across Feetham Pasture
Great views across Swaledale to Harkerside Moor..
..and Whitaside Moor
Looking down Swaledale to Calver Hill, Fremington Edge, and Harkerside Moor
I follow the footpath down to the hamlet of Blades..
Brownsey Moor above Blades
Views of Swaledale as I follow the footpath from Blades down through fields to Low Row....
The River Swale from Isles Bridge
The row of cottages at Isles
Isles Bridge
From Isles Bridge I take a footpath west through fields
There's a lot of Meadowsweet in bloom
By the River Swale as I follow the footpath west past Strands..
On the home straight as I make my way back to Gunnerside, with views up Swaledale to Great Shunner Fell...
Before I head home, Gunnerside from the roadside above Gunnerside New Bridge