This lovely 8 mile walk is best done in early to mid-June when the Muker meadows, and to a lesser extent the Ivelet to Muker meadows, are full of wildflowers. Starting in Muker, find the path through the village which leads onto the meadows. It is not signed so be careful. Go through the delightful meadows, traditionally managed, ie cut for hay once, later into summer to allow the seeds to form, to the bridge over the Swale and turn N, gaining the track to Keld. Above Swinner Gill climb the track and take a sharp right on the track to Crackpot Hall, where a great view of the Dale southwards unfolds. This farmhouse, built in the 1700s, was abandoned in the 1950s due to mining subsidence. Make sure to find the right track, which is by the upper building, to continue above Swinner Gill. Cross its left branch and a short while after some mine buildings cross its right branch to climb back up the east side of the Gill. and continue along what would seem on the map to be a straightforward levelish walk, but on the ground is not, some alertness is needed. The passage down through a wall just past Arngill Wood is a key point. after the next Gill crossing the path, now signed, takes a climb up and then along above Arn Gill Scar, which unfortunately you don’t see. The going then gets rough in places on the steep hillside, but the superb views compensate fully. After passing under the oddly named Kisdon Scar – as the farmhouse and Hill are west from here over the Swale – the “path” is now a quad track which turns away from the valley, presumably to the track from Ivelet Moor. Take this if you wish, otherwise the path on the map probably doesn’t exist, just take the best course down to the road and continue down to Gunnerside Lodge and right to the hamlet of Ivelet. Continue right at the bottom alongside the Swale, and by a welcome bench pass through a wall into further meadows. Follow the well worn path through many meadows, and if the Swale is low, and it was this year, and only this year, save some walking and retracing of your steps by keeping to the riverside path when you see Muker, following the path north, and a few yards after a gate through the wall on the right and where the wall meets the river bank, find a crossing of the river. If you’ve got it right a stile greets you after the thin band of trees leading to the path back to the Farmers’ Arms or tea shop. If the river is “normal”, keep on the main valley path to the bridge crossed earlier, and back through the meadows. The river crossing course makes 8 miles as described, with 1400ft of ascent.
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