Swaledale

Many people whizz down Whipperdale Bank (one of the best named roads in the Dales?) on their way to Reet, without stopping to admire the stunning Swaledale scenery or pausing in Grinton. Yet Grinton was once an important destination: at the end of the Corpse Way.

​Until 1580, St. Andrews Church, Grinton in Swaledale was one of only a few consecrated burial grounds so people had to carry their dead up to 16 miles. This route became known as the Corpse Way.

Bodies were carried in wicker coffins and …

Ever noticed random humpty-dumpty little hills in the Yorkshire Dales or the remains of curious stone buildings scattered in remote areas?

Wandering through the peaceful Yorkshire Dales, it's hard to imagine that the area was once a much more industrial landscape, with extensive lead mines. There are lead ore deposits between Nidderdale and Wharfedale and in Arkengarthdale, Swaledale and Wensleydale.

Moulded blocks of lead have been found in the Yorkshire Dales dating back as far as Roman times, w…

Mooker, Muck-er, mew-ker... However you say it, Muker* in Swaledale is a tiny place, much-loved and especially popular with walkers and photographers. Muker is beautiful all year round but it's particularly wonderful in June when the wildflower meadows are in full flower. Make sure you stick to the paths - there are flagstoned paths in some of the fields so you can get closer to admire the myriad varieties of wildflowers.

Over recent years the hay meadows have become even more precious. Farmers a…

Have you travelled along the Dales route described as "scenic but scarey!" and "England’s only truly spectacular road*”?

The Buttertubs Pass is one of the Yorkshire Dales' most iconic roads: twisting, turning, rising and suddenly dipping for just over 5 miles between Hawes and Thwaite. It's not a long journey but is one you want take slowly, so you can enjoy the views, and of course avoid ending up in one of the steep valleys below.

The lure of the Buttertubs Pass is so strong, that you may well …

Have you heard how two brothers in the tiny hamlet of Thwaite inspired Sir David Attenborough?

Thwaite in Swaledale is a small hamlet, popular thanks to its location on the Coast to Coast, Pennine Way and Herriot Way. Thwaite is a norse name meaning a clearing: this area was once more densely wooded. It's thought that people may have lived here since the Iron Age (600 BC!) as there's an earthwork bank and ditch just outside Thwaite.

Few of today's visitors know about some of Thwaite's most famous …