Easy Walk from Reeth: Via the Swing Bridge

Having just walked along Fremington Edge, and now back in Reeth, it was only 1:30, so I decided to do a little more, which is how this walk came about. I wanted something short, as I only had an hour to spare. And quite perfectly, that’s exactly how long it took me.

Looking along the river, lined with green leafy trees, and a stoney bank, on the circular walk from Reeth.

A wooden gate in a stone wall, with a dirt trail leading to it, on the Reeth circular walk.

What I’m going to do in this guide, is first give you a bit of an overview of the Reeth circular walk via the swing bridge, with full logistics and a map. Then I will go on to describe the route step by step with lots of photos. At the end, I will provide suggestions for other walks you could try near Reeth.

What to expect on this circular walk from Reeth

This walk takes you from Reeth, and on a circular route around and alongside the River Swale. The route is very pretty and gentle. With a bit of woodland, some lovely views, and a few bridges. The main bridge is the swing bridge, which is nice and wobbly to walk over.

A narrow dirt trail under the woodland, with trees to the right, and a moss covered stone wall to the left. The trail is lined with green leafy plants.

Looking through a gap in the bushes, and over the stone wall, to a green grass field with a stone shed on the other side.

Looking along the swing bridge over the river, on the circular walk from Reeth.

A trail on the right, lined with tall grass and green pants. There is a stone wall on the left, and green grass hills rising up on the other side.

Although I wouldn’t call this a hilly walk, the trail does undulate, and there is one very small hill near the end. I think this walk is perfect if you want a nice afternoon stroll, after a pub lunch in Reeth.

How long is the walk?

This circular Reeth walk via the swing bridge, is just under 3 miles. It took me an hour to complete.

If you want to make the route longer, you could add it onto this route along Fremington Edge.

Is the walk dog friendly?

I would say this Reeth circular walk is dog friendly. There are no stiles. I didn’t see any loose livestock, however, I can’t say for sure if the fields near the end don’t have them at some point.

Looking across a large grass field, with sheep grazing. — This is the only livestock I saw. They are in a separate field to the trail.

Is this walk from Reeth pram friendly?

No. This circular walk from Reeth has a few steps, and narrow dirt trail with tree roots, so I wouldn’t say it’s suitable for prams.

Rugged steps leading up, with a moss covered stone wall on the left and a wooden railing on the right. The steps are lined with overgrown green plants.

Parking in Reeth

Despite being a small village, there are plenty of places to park in Reeth. The main place is the large green in the centre of the village. It’s honesty box type payment. Alternatively, there is also free parking along the roads.

A mass of cars parked in the centre of Reeth.

Logistics

Start/Finish: Reeth
Where is it: Reeth is located in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales. It’s the very north. Post code is DL11 6SZ.
Public Transport: Bus number 831 bus runs through Reeth, from Middlesborough to Hawes (you can find the timetable here). Or the Swaledale Shuttle 30, runs Mon-Sat between Catterick and Keld. Both of these buses are very infrequent. You can see the Swaledale Shuttle timetable here.
Distance: 2.9 miles
Time: 1h
Terrain: Dirt, gravel, a few tree roots, a few steps (not many), grass, road, 5 bridges.
Difficulty: Easy
Amenities: There are numerous pubs, an ice cream parlour, baker, corner shop, and public toilets in Reeth. As well as the National Park Visitors Centre. Along the route, at Grinton, you will pass by another pub which looked quite lovely.
Time of year: I did this walk from Reeth in late spring

Circular Reeth walk via the swing bridge map

You can find my more detailed route map for this circular walk from Reeth on AllTrails.

To explore more walks in Yorkshire, you can see everything I recommend on my Yorkshire Dales Walking guide here.

Route description for the circular walk from Reeth via the swing bridge

Starting from the town centre in Reeth, walk down the road, as if you are leaving, to reach the bridge. Cross over the bridge and keep following the road.

A road leading straight ahead, with tractors and motorbikes driving along it. There are houses on the left side of the road, and a grass bank and stone wall on the right.

Looking along the river, filled with large stones and rocks, at the start of the walk out of Reeth. the river is lined with grass fields and a trees.

A road leading straight ahead, with a tractor driving on it. there is a pavement and stone wall on the right, and a field on the left.

Someway along, there will be a wooden gate in the stone wall on the right. Go through it, to get onto the start of the trail.

My first though was, how lovely and lush and green everything is.

A trail lined with overgrown grass and bushes. There are some cottages ahead to the left.

A dirt trail through a mass of green plants, bushes and trees, near the start of the Reeth circular walk.

Following the path, go through the next wooden gate, and turn right. If it’s the right time of year, the field to your left will be filled with yellow buttercups.

A path leading to a wooden gate, on the Reeth circular walk. The path is lined with overgrown grass and plants. The field on the other side of the gate is filled with yellow flowers. There are hills rising up in the distance.

A path leading straight ahead, lined with a wire fence, and tall green grass. There os a field over the left fence, which is filled with yellow flowers.

Grinton

Keep following the trail, through some more gates, and past the camp ground, to reach the bridge.

The path leading to two wooden gates. there is a big tree on the left, overhanging the gates.

A long straight path, running between two large green fields. The field on the right is filled with tents.

Once you cross over the bridge, you will be in Grinton. That pub I mentioned earlier is just here.

A bridge road with cyclists heading over it, part way through the Reeth circular walk. there are houses on the other side of the bridge.

A road with a pavement and stone wall on the right, and trees with purple flowers leading over the wall, partway through the walk from Reeth. There is house covered in green ivy, on the other side of the road, and the pub is next to it.

A short way over the bridge, you want to take the little side road driveway to the right, which might have a perfectly framed view of a portaloo.

A wide driveway type road, lined with stone walls. there is a stone walled cottage ahead, with a porta-loo next to it. There are green leafed bushes and trees overhanging the right wall.

Walk alongside the river

The next section of the Reeth walk, follows the River Swale. To start, you will be on a dirt path, which might a little overgrown in places.

A dirt path with trees on the right side, and bushes with white flowers on the left.

A narrow dirt trail leading through and overgrowth of green leafy bushes and plants.

Just past the graveyard, there will be steps to the left, which take you up to the road.

Looking through a gap in the trees to some gravestones with light shine down on them, partway through the Reeth circular walk.

When you reach the the road, turn right.

A road leading ahead, lined with tall green grass, plants with white flowers, and trees.

Don’t worry, it’s not a busy road. I was here on a weekend, and not a single car passed by.

Whilst walking along the road, you will have the occasionally lovely view through the trees to the right, to the fields and hills in the distance.

Looking through a gap in the trees to a large field, with trees on the other side.

When you reach the trail with a wooden signpost on the right, follow it.

A wooden trail signpost pointing ahead along a gravel trail. There is a wooden gate on the end of the trail ahead. There is a stone wall to the right.

Walk with the views

This next section of the Reeth walk, is much more open, so you can really take in the surrounding views of prettiness.

A thin trail lined with grass and stone walls, on the walk back to Reeth. There is a large neatly cut grass field on the right side.

You will pass by a few copper plaques, telling you of something important. This is my favourite one:

A copper plaque marking the burial place of an important person.

It marks an earth mound, of an unknown date, which may be the burial place of an important person.

The trail is easy to follow, and takes you through a few gates, with a few undulations along the way. This section is also the halfway point in the Reeth Circular walk.

A dirt trail on the left, lined with green grass, and trees, with the river to the right, on the walk back to Reeth.

A dirt trail with a tone wall to the left and big trees lining the right, on the walk back towards Reeth.

A gravel trail lined with overgrown green grass, with a fallen down wire fence on the right, and stone wall to the left.

The dirt path leading to a wooden gate in the stone wall. The path leads from under the trees and out to the open on the other side of the fence.

Looking across the large grass fields, with a small pond and a big hill rising up in the distance. — That’s Fremington Edge in the distance

Following this path, you will reach a little wooden bridge, where there is a wooden sign pointing over it to walk to Reeth.

A gravel path on the left, leading to a small wooden bridge, on the walk to the suspension bridge near Reeth.

Walk to the swing bridge.

Over the wooden bridge, you will be taken right alongside the river, to reach the main one. The swing bridge. I had no idea this walk from Reeth would involve a swing bridge over the river, so it was a wonderful surprise. It’s also very wobbly to walk over.

Looking towards the suspension bridge over the river, on the walk back to Reeth.

Looking along the river, when standing on there suspension bridge, on the walk back to Reeth. the river is lined with rocks, and a green grass field on the left, and masses of green leafy trees on the right.

Over the bridge, I had intended to follow a trail straight, except there was a diversion. I liked their little diversion sign, so I didn’t mind too much.

A wooden arrow sign pointing left for a temporary diversion, on the walk back to Reeth from the suspension bridge.

The diversion and the fields

Keep following the path to the left, all the way, through the woodland section, with a dirt trail and tree roots.

A dirt path leading towards the trees. There is a wire fence on the right, with a green grass field on the other side.

The dirt trail leading to a small wooden bridge.

A wooden plank walkway, with bushes and trees to the left, and a grass uphill to the right.

A narrow dirt trail, with a big tree on the left side, and a mass of tall grass and bushes to the right.

Soon you will reach a wooden sign pointing right to walk to Reeth. Follow it through the wooden gate, along more dirt trail, and up the hill, to the next wooden gate.

A wooden trail signpost pointing the way to walk to Reeth.

A wooden gate with a dirt trail leading under the trees on the other side.

A rugged dirt trail leading uphill to the left, surround by green grass, white flowers and trees.

Once you walk through the next gate, turn left to walk up the hill. Then a short way up, there is a wooden gate in the stone wall to the right. Go through it, and follow the grass trail.

A wide dirt path under the trees, leading uphill to a grass field out in the open.

A wide grass trail leading to a stone wall.

Walk back to Reeth

You will now be walking in a pretty much straight direction, across the fields, through some stone walls, and little gates, all the way back to Reeth.

A wide grass trail through a field filled with yellow buttercups, near the end of the Reeth circular walk. There are trees on the other side of the field.

A gravel path with a hill rising up to the left, and a stone wall to the right.

A big metal gate across the path, with bushes lining the left side of the path ahead, and a stone cottage ahead in the distance on the right.

Once you reach the little cottages, you will know you are nearly there.

A wide path, with a stone walkway running along the left side of it. The path and walkway are lined with bushes to the right and an ivy covered stone wall to the left. There is a cottage over the bushes on the right.

Along the little road, keep an eye out for the little gap in the wall, with a footpath sign, to the left. Follow it, then when you reach the white Market place sign, follow the arrow to the right. This will lead you to a residential area.

The stone wall lined path leading straight and to the right, with a footpath sign through a gap in the wall to the left, on there walk back into Reeth.

A white sign on the wooden fence, pointing right to walk to the Reeth market place.

When you get to the residential street, turn left, then take the first right. Afterwards, walk to the end of the road, and through the little alley gap to the right of the big stone shed type building. This will lead you back to the centre of Reeth.

A residential road, with a green leafed hedge to the left, and stone wall to the right. There are houses to the right of the stone wall. There is a big shed building ahead. — This is after you turn right (after you turned left)

Walking through a gap between the stone walled building on the left, and stone wall on the right.

More walks near Reeth

If you want something bigger and more adventurous, you should try this route along Fremington Edge. It’s a real slog to walk up to, but will give you a gorgeous view down to Reeth, and across the wonderful rolling hills of Swaledale.

A very short way down there road, you have the Old Gang Smelting Mines. These are the ruins of old lead mines. There is a path that takes you right alongside them, which is pram friendly.

A little further down the road from Reeth, you will reach Gunnerside, which is where my favourite walk is. Gunnerside Gill. This route through Gunnerside Gill, is the simply breathtaking. It takes you through the valley, passing by old mining ruins, and a bunch of waterfalls with dipping pools.

The next main village along is Muker. From there, you can do this walk along the river. Firstly it takes you up along the hilltop, with grand views down into the valley, before descending to walk alongside the river, passing by some waterfalls.

These are just the walks near Reeth, but if you would like to explore all over the Dales, then I have more to choose from on my best walks in the Yorkshire Dales guide here.

Pin it for later: Easy Reeth circular walk

Reeth circular walk guide in the Yorkshire Dales.

You can find out more about things to do in Reeth on the welcome to Yorkshire website.