Our Three Favourite Walks from Hillcrest Cottage

 Our Three Favourite Walks from Hillcrest Cottage

There are many walks and rambles to explore when you are staying at Hillcrest.  There are plenty books & leaflets in the cottage plus a portfolio of Swaledale & Wensleydale walks that I have collected over the years however here are our Top 3.  They are all very different.  The first is from the cottage door.  Its always good to leave your car behind.  The second is a short drive up the steep road at the side of the Punchbowl Inn.  And the third is a linear walk so it requires two vehicles or one person in your party to be the driver and is happy to drop you off at the start and collect you at the finish.  Whichever you choose - enjoy!

Number One:  

A circular walk from the cottage door.  A very pleasant ramble along leafy lanes and the very quiet path that follows the river and finally through woodland.  The path comes out on the road just east of Low Row. You have to pass the Punchbowl Inn before getting back to Hillcrest.  How convenient!  Time your walk for opening time and pop in for lunch or a drink.  I have written a blog with photos & directions for this walk.  Read it here https://pryhousefarm.blogspot.com/2022/05/an-easy-and-very-lovely-circular-walk.html

Number Two:

  Surrender Bridge to Old Gang and Great Pinseat.  The start of this walk is only a 5 minute drive from Hillcrest.  There's plenty parking at Surrender Bridge.  This circular walk is on a hard, permanent track so is ideal if there's been a lot of rain when grassy paths are soft & wet.  This is also a great route to take if you have bikes.  It is a walk that is steeped in history.  Explore the lead mining buildings at Surrender and Old Gang and peer down the Brandy Bottles tunnels that go deep into the hillside.  Again I have written a blog of this walk for you to follow.  Read it here https://pryhousefarm.blogspot.com/2020/11/a-walk-in-footsteps-of-long-ago-lead.html 

Number Three:

Grinton Youth Hostel to Bolton Castle.  Approximately 10 miles. Call in at the YDNP Hudson House Visitor Centre in Reeth for a map.  This is a linear walk and is part of the Herriot Way.  The views of Reeth, Low Row and beyond up Swaledale are spectacular.  If you do this walk in August when the heather is in full bloom, it is simply heavenly.  Some of the paths go directly through the heather and the honey scent is intoxicating.  Heather moors, sparkling mountain springs, stretches of land that bears the scars of its lead mining past, grassy pastures and finally the fairytale Bolton Castle and its very welcome tearoom!  

I hope you have fun exploring the diverse and very beautiful landscape of Swaledale.