General Information From the old coaching town of Boroughbridge, the Swale Way begins by following the banks of the Ure to Swale Nab, where the Swale empties into the Ure. Then it meanders through tranquil farmland to Thirsk, an attractive little town with a large cobbled Market Place. Thirsk was the 'Darrowby' in James Herriot's stories of life as a Yorkshire vet. His surgery in the town is now a popular museum. The trail also visits Brafferton, where St Paulinus baptized 10,000 people in the waters of the river; Bolton-on-Swale, where an obelisk commemorates Henry Jenkins, England's longest-lived citizen, who died in 1670 aged 169; the magnificent ruin of Easby Abbey, founded in 1152 by the 'White Monks'; and Richmond, one of the most beautiful towns in England. Next, the Swale Way follows paths running along the top of the valley, which provide wonderful views across Swaledale, before descending to the attractive little town of Reeth, the 'capital' of upper Swaledale. From here, the trail returns to the river and follows footpaths linking pretty stone-built villages dotted along the dale to the hamlet of Keld and the gathering grounds of the Swale, through a landscape of dry stone walls, flower-filled meadows and tiny field barns.
Travel Information Total Distance: 76 miles (122km) Duration: 7 nights, 6 walking days Minimum/maximum daily distances: 10 miles (16km)/16 miles (25.5km) Starting point of holiday: Boroughbridge End of holiday: Keld Most convenient railway station (start of trail): Thirsk Most convenient railway station (end of trail): Kirkby Stephen Onward travel: Bus (Arrival Service 70) to Ripon (approximately 40 minutes). Bus (Harrogate Coach Travel Service 142) from Ripon to Boroughbridge (approximately 17 minutes). End of trail to Kirkby Stephen: Taxi Season: March to October
Itinerary Day 1: Travel to Boroughbridge
Day 2: Boroughbridge to Thirsk. 16 miles (25.5km)
Day 3: Thirsk to Morton-on-Swale. 12 miles (19km)
Day 4: Morton-on-Swale to Richmond. 14 miles (22.5km)
Day 5: Richmond to Reeth. 12 miles (19km)
Day 6: Reeth to Keld. 12 miles (19km)
Day 7: Origin of Swale circular walk. 10 miles (16km)
Day 8: Depart from Keld
Accommodation & Meals 7 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail. Traditional cooked breakfast.
What’s Included Door to door luggage transfer. Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook describing the trail. An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list. Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it. Emergency assistance
