It was that time of the year again to pay a visit to Upper Swaledale to see the amazing wild flower meadows. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is but there is something really special walking through the riverside meadows when they are bursting full of buttercups and clover. We were a few weeks later in visiting this year, and I don't know if that was the reason or not, but the meadows didn't seem as good as last year? Another possible reason could be been the lack of rain recently, the River Swale had almost dried up, I can't ever remember seeing it so low as it was on this visit. The walk along the river between Muker and Keld is probably one of the best in the Yorkshire Dales, made even more special at this time of the year by the wild flowers. It has to be high on your 'To do list' if you are planning a visit to the area.
Swaledale Woollens and the gallery are both well worth a visit
As are the village shop and tea rooms, after the walk of course!
After a short walk through the narrow lanes of Muker village you reach the meadows
The main flowers are Buttercups and Red Clover
We also spotted some Cranesbill
A close up shot of the Red Clover
It was a warm day with very little wind, but there was a distinct lack of sunshine, which would have made it just about perfect!
The only downside to the meadows is the number of gates and stiles you have to go through
Even though there are plenty of signs asking you to stick to the paved path, the lack of flowers either side of the path shows that people either can't read or they just ignore them?
Click on the image above for the 360º panoramic view of wild flower meadows
A very dry looking River Swale
This part of the Swaledale valley is much narrower than lower down, and there are no fields, just rough pastures
You will pass the ruins of several old barns/buildings along the way, what was a small farming community many years ago
Looking across at Swinner Gill, a narrow rocky gorge, with a cave hidden away at the end!
There are still plenty of signs of the old lead mining industry to be seen, like these spoil heaps on the hill sides
The waterfalls of Kidson Force
The lower waterfall
and the upper one, still very photogenic despite the lack of water!
Looking back along the valley as we climbed back up from Kidson Force (you need to leave the main path to see it)
East Stonesdale Farm, a popular stop over for people doing the Coast to Coast or the Pennine Way, the they cross paths here!
The farmers in the upper part of Swaledale are paid a subsidy for not cutting the meadows early to allow the wild flowers to seed
Just below the village of Keld we crossed over the river
Waterfalls in East Stonesdale Beck
Looking back towards the small hamlet of Keld as we headed back downstream to Muker
Well we couldn't not have a photo of Tim could we????
One of the classic views of Swaledale, the slightly better one is from Crackpot Hall, a bit higher up the hillside
Waterfalls at the bottom of Swinner Gill
Looking back down the valley towards Muker from the bottom of Swinner Gill
and westwards towards Keld from the same spot
Looking across the river (?) at the meadows we had walked through earlier in the morning
Rampsholme Bridge, where we crossed back over the river
and where Tim couldn't resist a dip in the river
One last look at those lovely wild flower meadows before we headed back to Muker for lunch!
I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the photograph's from this walk? If you have any questions or comments regarding them or the walk in general, please either leave a message below, or send me an email, and I will get back to you asap. Thanks Gary ...
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Our last walk was an ascent of Rannerdale Knotts
Our next walk was wander over the limestone pavements of Fell End Clouds
Other Yorkshire Dales walks 2010 walks journalAll of the photograph's from this walk were taken using my Sony A700 camera and the Fuji HS10 camera
© www.mywainwrights.co.uk (This page was last updated - 8 July 2010)
