Maiden Castle and Harkerside
Start and Finish: Reeth centre
Approximate time for the walk: 5 hours
Distance: 8 miles
Landscape: Lead mine spoil heaps, hushes and bell pits, yellow wagtail and redstart
Map: Outdoor Leisure Map 30, Yorkshire Dales, Northern and Central areas
Description of the walk:
A. The walk starts from centre of Reeth. Walk past the Black Bull and Half moon and number of houses and buildings to reach Quaker Lane. Turn right down Quaker Lane to its end and then left immediately heading towards the riverside to meet a swing bridge.
B. Cross over the swing bridge and turn right, upstream with the River Swale which is first is open and then passes into area of wooded area. You reach some stepping stones and stile and continue up by a wall to a road. At the road, turn left for a third of a mile. When you reach the brow of the hill, turn right and head for Hawthorn tree and Maiden Castle hill-fort. Continue to Maiden Castle hill-fort.
C. From the top of the hill fort, head in a south west direction away from that for half mile to meet a reddish-brown tip heap of Harker lead mine and a broad track.
D. Continue along this broad bridleway track to meet a shooting box and onto to the summit of Harker’s Top.
E. Continue straight-along along the summit of the Harker’s Top. Continue straight-ahead when you meet another track, to reach a Grinton beck by a gate.
F. Go through the gate and turn left down a path which leads and descends to Grinto village. When you reach Grinton village, cross a stone bridge over the beck to reach the road. Follow the road through the village of village.
G. After 330 yards, turn right along a walled path which brings back to the River Swale. Follow this path to the swing bridge you encountered on outward route. Go over the swing-bridge and retrace your step back to Reeth.