Bridge over the Swale where it meets Gunnerside Beck

At about 10.15am we set off along the road (B6270) into the village where we turned left to follow a narrow lane heading towards the hamlet of Ivelet.

This morning the weather was fine and bright again and my wife and I drove to Gunnerside where we parked near the bridge over the River Swale where Gunnerside Beck joins the river.

Leaving Gunnerside

Wild orchid by the path

Once over the cattle grid we turned right off the road to make a steep climb about 600m long to a bridleway at SD945986.

After about 150 metres we came to a cattle grid at the edge of Gunnerside.

One of many violets by the path

Primroses by the path

After a few minutes we set off again along the bridleway track above Gunnerside Gill with great views up the valley.

At the bridleway we sat on the edge of the track to admire the view, but really for a rest. It was quite hot and stayed hot all day around 23 deg. C.

Looking across Botcher Gill to the bridleway we had just walked

Looking across Gunnerside Gill to the lead mining relics in the valley

In the valley bottom there are ruined relics of the industrial buildings of that time. We continued along the bridleway for over 2km to a steep sided gully with a waterfall at map ref. NY933006.

The whole area was worked for lead ore (galena) for about 150 years to the mid 1800's. and the valley sides are still scarred with the old workings.

The whole area is crossed by paths some on the map some not

Approaching Blakethwaite Smelt Mill

Stone clapper bridge over Gunnerside Beck

Just beyond the gully we took the right hand fork in the track which led us to a long straight incline down to a group of industrial ruins called Blakethwaite Smelt Mill at map ref. NY936017.

Looking back to the Blakethwaite Smelt Mill

We walked along the narrow path above Gunnerside Beck for about 300m where the path crossed the beck at map ref. NY937021.

We crossed the stream coming in from our left and stayed on the left hand bank of Gunnerside Beck. We climbed up a path by the ruin with the information board attached to it

Waterfall on Gunnerside Beck

Waterfall on Gunnerside Beck

After about 750m we came to the first of the Blakethwaite Dams. This is a stone structure with an earth infill.

Approaching the first Blakethwaite Dam

About 250m further on we came to the higher of the two dams.

You can see a good cross section of the construction where the dam has been breached.

The crest of the higher Blakethwaite Dam

Lunch break on the Blakethwaite Dam

We sat on the large stone blocks on top of the dam for our lunch. It had been a long climb in the hot weather coming up from Gunnerside and we were ready for a rest.

This is of a similar construction and has also been breached so that above the dam is a large marshy area where the old reservoir has been silted up and overgrown with cotton grass.

Wood Sorrel by the path

Relics of the lead mining industry as we returned along Gunnerside Gill

After about 500m we came to more ruins of the lead mining era set in the middle of a desolate area of huge stone waste tips down the steep valley side. The weather was still hot so we sat in the shade of a ruined wall for a drink before continuing along the path down the valley.

After a good break we retraced our steps back to the Blakethwaite Smelt Mill except that this time from map ref. NY937021 we kept to the east side of Gunnerside Beck. We followed the public footpath well above the industrial ruins by the beck.

An old adit amongst the industrial remains

A meadow pipit. It waited just long enough for a photo

This was the "Sir Francis Dressing Floor", an area where the lead ore was separated from the waste rock. We continued to follow the beck downstream and through some woodland back to Gunnerside.

After another 300m we took the right hand fork in the path down the valley side towards the beck. As we made our way along the valley bottom near the beck we came to more lead mining relics.

One of the Swaledale barns being renovated

Forget-me-nots by the path

It seemed from their dress that there had been a very large funeral in the village that day. I thought how sad it is when we have to leave this beautiful world behind, there are so many things I still want to do.

We continued to follow the beck downstream and through some woodland back to Gunnerside. There were crowds of people in the village.

A young Roe Buck too curious to run away

Gunnerside Beck just upstream of Gunnerside

The walk of 13km had taken us about five and a half hours in the heat with several stops for drinks and to take in the scenery.

Both my wife and I had found the walk quite strenuous and we were pleased to be back at the car after our walk.

Path through the woods on the edge of Gunnerside