A circuit from Keld to Muker
Recommended by
Our view
"A spectacular walk at the head of Swaledale in North Yorkshire"
Walk directions
Walk back down the car park entrance road and straight ahead down a gravel track, signed ‘Pennine Way and Coast to Coast’. Continue along at the upper level, ignoring a path downhill to the left. Go through a gate, pass a sign to Kisdon Upper Force, and then continue along the path below the crags until you reach a signpost.
Turn right, following the Pennine Way, and go up to a gap in a wall and another signpost. Head left and follow a rough and stony – but mostly level – path along Kisdon Side, first above woodland then across some more open slopes. Go through five gates (some are by stiles) and then continue down to a signpost and bear right until reaching another signpost, where the Pennine Way goes right.
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Additional information
Terrain
- Field and riverside paths and tracks, 4 stiles
Landscape
- Hillside and valley, hay meadows, riverside and waterfalls
Dog friendliness
- Dogs on leads (there are lots of sheep and nesting birds)
Parking
- Signed car park at west end of Keld near Park Lodge
Toilets en route
- Keld and Muker
About the walk
Keld – its name is the Old Norse word for a spring – is one of the most remote of the Dales villages. Set at the head of Swaledale, its cluster of grey cottages is a centre for some of the most spectacular walks in North Yorkshire. This walk follows, for part of its way, the traditional route by...
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
North Yorkshire, with its two National Parks and two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is England’s largest county and one of the most rural. This is prime walking country, from the heather-clad heights of the North York Moors to the limestone country that is so typical of the Yorkshire Dales – a place of contrasts and discoveries, of history and legend.
Nearby places to stay
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Nearby places to stay
The Punch Bowl Inn
The Punch Bowl is a friendly inn set in the heart of beautiful Swaledale and facing breathtaking views - a relaxing base from which to enjoy the stunning Yorkshire Dales. Amateurs of re...
Stone House Hotel
The Stone House Hotel is a beautiful Edwardian country house deep in the heart of Wensleydale. With well-appointed bedrooms, award-winning menus and a dream location, this is the perfec...
Shepherds Cottage
Shepherd's Cottage is a delightful, Grade II listed, 17th-century stone building that stands on its own in a small field surrounded by open countryside. It's situated between Hardraw an...
Charles Bathurst Inn
The CB Inn, as it is known by locals, is surrounded by magnificent scenery high in the Dales. Food is the focus of the pub, where a choice of rustic eating areas makes for atmospheric d...
Arklehurst Cottage
In the tiny Yorkshire Dales village of Langthwaite, in Arkengarthdale, Arklehurst is a traditional stone-built 18th-century cottage with comfortable accommodation for up to four people....
Arklehurst
In the tiny Yorkshire Dales village of Langthwaite, in Arkengarthdale, Arklehurst is a traditional stone-built 18th-century cottage with comfortable accommodation for up to four people....
Yorebridge House
Yorebridge House sits beside the river on the edge of Bainbridge, surrounded by the rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Once a Victorian schoolmaster’s house, it has evolved into ...
Urlay Nook
Original features abound throughout Urlay Nook, a light-filled cottage with thick stone walls, beams, an original bread oven and window seats. The village shops, pubs, restaurants and c...
Places to eat nearby View all
