The approximate route is shown by a blue line.
Use your mouse to drag the map to the area of interest and
zoom in/out using the controls on the left hand side of the map.
Please use my map to find the route on your own large scale
walking map such as the OS Explorer series at 1:25000.
If you have time if you do this walk please let me know how you get on.
That would be very helpful to me to keep my information accurate and up to date.
Please note that I provide this free service to you as a fellow walker on the
understanding that you walk
the route entirely at your own risk and that the information is not used for
any commercial purpose.
Map: OS Explorer OL30 Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central areas
General Directions (see markers on the route map)
1.) Start in the little square at Gunnerside where the B6270 makes a right angle bend at map ref. SD950982. If you make an early start there's usually room to park here, but if not there are a few more parking spaces on the roadside next to the bridge over the River Swale at the confluence of the river and Gunnerside Gill. From the little square follow the path on the eastern bank of Gunnerside Gill heading upstream. After a little over 1km the path turns right to head up the valley side for about 350m to a bridleway at map ref. SD947994, that follows the contour around the hillside below Winterings Edge. Continue along the bridleway above Gunnerside Gill following the valley upstream for about 4km to the second Braithwaite Dam. Both dams have long since been breached and the remaining pools behind the dams are completely silted up. The whole valley from Gunnerside to the dams is full of relics of the old lead mining industry with spoil heaps, ruined buildings, hushes and the Braithwaite Dams.
2.) From the Braithwaite Dams return about 1km back along the valley to map ref. NY938021 where there is a path down to a footbridge over Gunnerside Gill. Cross the bridge and follow the path downstream along the western bank of the beck. After about 400m the path comes to a stream called Blind Gill where there is an old kiln and a stone clapper bridge across Gunnerside Gill, with some ruined buildings from the lead mining era. At Blind Gill turn right to follow a path climbing up the hillside for about 600m to join a track at map ref. NY931013, heading west across the moor top. After about 1.3km the path leaves the track and begins a steep descent along the north bank of a stream called East Grain. Follow this path to a footbridge over Swinner Gill about 100m above the confluence of East Gran & Swinner Gill.
3.) From the footbridge over Swinner Gill follow the path contouring round the hillside for about 1km to the ruins of Crackpot Hall. From the ruined hall drop down on to the bridleway heading downstream along the hillside above the River Swale. After about 500m the bridleway has dropped down almost to the River Swale and crosses a footbridge over Swinner Gill at the site of some old lead mining relics. From this footbridge continue along the bridleway following the River Swale downstream for almost 2km to map ref. SD910986. Here a path turns right off the bridleway towards a footbridge over the River Swale.
4.)Do not cross the footbridge over the River Swale but follow the footpath along the river bank for about 2.5km to the road at map ref. SD933978. Here the road has just crossed the River Swale on Ivelet Bridge, a lovely old stone arch bridge. Look out for the 'coffin stone' on theorth side of the bridge where the bearers could rest the coffin on its journey to the church at Grinton in the days when there was no church higher up the valley. From Ivelet Bridge follow the road into the village and at map ref. SD941969, turn right off the road to follow a footpath across the fields (mostly hay meadows) for about 1.5km back to Gunnerside and the end of the walk.