Best Way To Walk Fremington Edge

The Fremington Edge walk was spectacular, but it almost wasn’t….

What I discovered, is that when walking along the official Fremington Edge trail, you don’t get that much in the way of views. As soon as I had opportunity, I got off it to a trail lower down, which is when the magic happened.

Looking down into the valley on the Fremington Edge walk. The valley is filled with green fields, with a hill and peak rising up on the other side, with a road curving up it.

Looking down and across the green valley fields, with a small settlement of houses at the bottom, on the walk along Fremington Edge.

What I’m going to do in the guide, is first give you an overview of the circular walk up and along Fremington Edge, with some useful tips, full logistics, and a map. Then I will describe the route, step by step with lots of photos.

What is Fremington Edge?

Formed during the last Ice Age, Fremington Edge is a long steep craggy hill, in the very North of the Yorkshire Dales. There is a stone wall stretching along the entire length, and a vast expansion of heather moorland dominating the eastern side.

A stone wall running along the top of Fremington Edge. the ground is a mix of grass mud, and moorland. — This is Fremington Edge

A good place to start the walk up to Fremington Edge, is from Reeth. If you are in Reeth, it’s the big hill looming behind.

What to expect on the Fremington Edge circular walk

This walk takes you up to the top of Fremington Edge straight away, where you will be rewarded with vast, impressive views down into the valley. The way up is quite challenging, and gets very steep, and a bit of a scramble may be involved near the top.

Looking down the hill into the valley of undulating green fields, when walking up to the top of Fremington Edge.

Looking down the hill at the start of the walk up to Fremington Edge. the landscape is green, with stone walls dividing the fields, and a stone shed sitting in one of the fields. The village of Reeth is visible in the distance.

Looking across the side of the hills with a stone wall cutting across it, on the walk up to Fremington Edge.

Looking down into the valley, with fields of green as far as the eye can see. The village of Reeth is visible in the distance at the bottom. There are a few people below, climbing up the hill.

The official Fremington Edge Trail actually takes you further and away from all the views, but there is an alternate trail you can take which is just below, where you can continue to enjoy the views across the wonderful Swaledale.

A narrow trail running along the hilltop, with the valley below to the left. There is a stone wall running across and down the hill ahead.

Looking down the hill to the valley below. The landscape is fields of green, with a strip of trees running through the bottom.

After that, you will descend off Fremington Edge, into the valley, and walk through gorgeous undulating fields, and along the river side, as you make your way back to Reeth. Even from below, the views are gorgeous.

A stoney path running in between two rugged stone walls, on the Fremington Edge circular walk. there is a view to a peak rising above, ahead.

A narrow dirt trail leading down into the white cherry blossom trees.

Swaledale is my favourite place to walk in Yorkshire. I highly recommend you try out this route through Gunnerside Gill. It’s my favourite of all of them. Another wonderful one, is this circular from Muker.

How long is the walk?

This circular walk up along Fremington Edge and back, is about 6.6 miles. It took me about 2.5h to complete.

Is the Fremington Edge walk challenging?

The first bit of the walk, getting up Fremington Edge is quite challenging. After that, it’s easy, as it’s all level walking, or downhill.

Looking up the rocky, grass hill. — The walk up to the top of Fremington Edge

A rocky dirt path with a view to the green hills undulating ahead.

Looking across the undulating green grass fields, at the start of the Fremington Edge circular walk. The fields are divided by stone walls. there are woodland trees to the left.

If you want something easy, starting from Reeth, you could try this circular. It’s only a few miles, and quite lovely.

Is the walk dog friendly

There is some sheep about, however, the main issue would be the stiles and ladders, which might make it difficult if you have a large dog.

A stone wall, with a wooden ladder going over it. There is a wire fence and stile in front of the wall.

A grass field with trees around the perimeter, partway through the Fremington Edge circular walk. there are two sheep walking across the field.

Parking to walk up Fremington Edge

This walk up to Fremington Edge starts from Reeth. There is a large green in the centre of the village, which is the main parking area. Payment for parking is via an honesty box. From memory I think its about £2 for the day, or something like that.

The centre of Reeth, with lots of parked cars.

Honesty boxes make me nervous. Do I pay for parking or don’t I? So I parked down the street, where roadside parking is free.

Tips for the Fremington Edge circular walk

Do the route anticlockwise, so you walk up to Fremington Edge first. That way you get the tough part out of the way at the start. Plus, the way up gets very very steep and a bit scrambly. I would not want to walk down that.
Hiking boots due to the rugged and steepness up to the top. It also looked like some parts can get very muddy with the rain. We just had a heat wave so it was dry for me.
If you want the best views, don’t walk all the way along the top of Fremington Edge, but instead take the trail just below.

Take layers. Despite how hot it was, when walking along the top (and the trail just below) of Fremington Edge, it got very windy and cold.

Looking along the undulating hillside, with the valley below to the left, partway through the Fremington Edge walk in the Yorkshire Dales.

Logistics

Start/Finish: Reeth
Where is it: Fremington Edge is located in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales. Post code for Reeth is DL11 6TX.

Public Transport: The 831 bus runs through Reeth, from Middlesborough to Hawes you can see the timetable here. Bus 30 runs Mon-Sat between Catterick and Keld. Both are very infrequent. You can see the bus 30 timetable on the Little White Bus website (choose the Swaledale Shuttle).
Distance: 6.6 miles
Time: 2h 30 min

Difficulty: Moderate (it’s mostly easy, but there is one very challenging bit)
Terrain: Dirt trail, grass, rocks, maybe mud, wooden ladders, some stiles
Amenities: Reeth has a few pubs, an ice cream parlour, bakery, corner shop, public toilets, and National Park Visitors Centre. Nothing along the route.

Time of year: I walked Fremington Edge in late spring

Map for the Fremington Edge circular walk

You can find my more detailed route map for the Fremington Edge walk on Alltrails

Route Description for the Fremington Edge circular walk

Starting from Reeth, follow the road downhill out of the village, towards the bridge. Over the Bridge, just past the corner, you should see a trail signpost to the left.

A road leading over a stone walled bridge, with Fremington edge visible ahead in the distance. There are lots of green leafy trees on the other side of the bridge.

Looking along the river, which is lined with rocks, and surrounded by masses of green leafy trees.

A stone wall, with a wooden trail signpost pointing left over it. There are hills with trees dotted about ahead. The road is to the right.

There are two ways you can go here. Both take you to the top of Fremington Edge, interestingly to the same spot. So I decided to take the left trail.

A track running along the left side of a field with yellow buttercups. There is a stone wall on the left side of the track, and a stone shed in the field on the right.

Taking the left, you will initially be on a track type trail, which leads onto a grass trail. It’s easy to follow, as it then takes you through a little wooden gate, then further along, where you have the option of a gate to the left or stone wall opening to the right, take the gate.

A green grass field, with a stone wall running along the left side, and Fremington Edge rising above ahead.

A trail running through the grass field, with a stone shed ahead to the left. There is a stone wall across the field ahead, and a big hill rising up behind.

A wooden gate in a stone wall. — The second gate

Through the gate, continue up the little hill you will see ahead, which will lead you to the trail signpost pointing through the stone wall.

A grass trail through the field, leading towards a small hill. There are lots of green leafy trees on the other side of the field, and a big hill rising up on the other side.

A grass trail through the field, with a stone wall running along the right side, with a big cherry blossom tree next to it.

A dirt path leading through a stone wall on the right. There is a wooden trail signpost on the left, pointing through the wall.

Now it’s a straight line up.

Walk to the top of Fremington Edge

Keep going straight, past the shed, and through the stone wall and gate. At this junction, the sign tells you to go left or right. Do neither, and just keep going straight up.

Walking across a large grass field, with a stone wall cutting across it ahead, with a stone shed past the wall, and Fremington Edge rising up behind.

Looking through a gap in the stone wall. A stone shed is visible through the gap, in the green grass field on the other side. There is a yellow arrow on the stone wall, pointing through it.

A rugged stone wall, with a wooden trail signpost on the other side, and a hill rising up behind.

A wooden trail signpost with a big hill rising up behind it. — Go straight up here

This is where it starts to get steeper.

Keep going, and keep going, to reach the ladder over the stone wall. Also, make sure to look back at the views.

A grass path leading up the hill. There is a stone wall running up the hill on the left.

A wooden stump signpost on the grass hill, with yellow arrows pointing ahead and right.

Looking along the side of the underling green grass fields, on the walk up to Fremington Edge. The fields are divided by curving stone walls. there are a few trees dotted about the fields.

A wooden ladder over a stone wall, with a steep hill rising up on the other side, on the walk up to the top of Fremington Edge.

Looking straight along a stone wall which cuts across the hillside, on the walk up to Fremington Edge.

Over the wall, it gets steeper again, as you continue straight up. You will reach a point which is steeper, and a bit more rocky. You may need to use your hands here.

When you reach the mass of rubble rocks, you are nearly there. Now, if I was to do this route again, I would take the left at this junction of rubble. However, to walk to the official Fremington Edge Trail, keep going up to reach the gate. Then through the gate, turn left.

A rocky path junction, with a wooden trail signpost pointing straight ahead towards Fremington Edge.

A rocky gravel path leading to a big metal gate in the stone wall.

A stone wall with a wire fence on the left, running straight ahead across the moorland fields.

Walk along the top of Fremington Edge

Now, although I suggested taking the route below, you can actually join onto it a bit later, if you want to at least walk a little bit along Fremington Edge. You know, so you can say you have done it.

I had expected to have some grand views from up here. But this was my view:

A dirt trail running through the grass on the walk along the top of Fremington Edge. There is a stone wall running straight ahead on the left side/

If the heather was in bloom, it would probably have been a lot better.

As I made my way along, I was sure it must change at some point. But it didn’t. I was a little annoyed at myself for not taking the other trail, and had a bit of fomo. The views I had seen on the way up were so fantastic, and this was not.

When I saw a gate in the wall, I immediately took it. At first all I could see was green. I had this anticipation of what was about to come.

A wooden gate in the stone wall, running across the left side of the field.

A pile of stone ahead on the grass, with a view to big hills in the distance.

And then it all appeared. Those views I had been longing. I ran into a couple of hikers along here, and they asked me if it was worth walking along the officially Fremington Edge. I said no.

Two people along along the edge of the hill top, with the valley below to the right.

Walk along the lower trail of Fremington Edge

Turn right, where there is a stile straight away, and continue to make your wall along the hill. I found it to be a lot windier here than when walking on the Fremington Edge Trail. I didn’t have that wall protection. But I was fine with that. The views were worth it.

A narrow dirt trail running across the edge of the hill top, with the hill descending to the left.

A stone wall with a gap on there left, and a wooden ladder over it to the right.

Looking along the grass hill top, with the valley below to the left.

Looking along the hillside, with the valley below to the right. There are lots of green leafy trees at the bottom of the valley.

Keep going all the way to reach the rock pile, which makes the start of the descent.

A pile of stone on the edge of the hill, with a view into the valley ahead.

Walk down away from Fremington Edge

At the rock pile, back to the right, you should see the trail. Follow it, then turn left at the trail sign, and make your way downhill. The trail is loosely marked, switching between gravel and grass.

A trail running along the large grass field.

A gravel path leading across the hill top, with patches of grass.

A grassy hilltop with patches of gravel, and a trail signpost ahead, and a hill rising up in the distance.

Looking down the hill to the valley of green grass fields below, on the Fremington Edge circular walk.

Then as it curves you around, you will have a wonderful view along the Fremington Edge hillside ahead.

A rocky path curving around to the left, with a big hill and peak ahead in the distance.

Keep following the trail which curves you back and forth, all the way to reach the stone wall with a gate.

A path curving ahead through the rocky ground, with a view to the green undulating hills ahead in the distance.

A trail running down the hill, towards a stone wall. there are green hills rising up on the other side of the wall. there is a wooden stump trail signpost on the right side of the trail.

Looking down the hill, with a stone wall running down the left side of it. There is a wooden gate in the stone wall. There is a hill with trees dotted about ahead. — Take that gate on the left

Through the gate, continue down along the right side of the field next to the stone wall. You will then be curved a bit more, to reach the gate by the cottage at the bottom.

A grass trail leading down the hill, with a stone wall to the left, lots of trees at the bottom, and a peak rising up in the distance.

A trail leading downhill, with a stone wall to the right, and field to the left. There is a row of trees across the bottom, and a hill and peak rising up on the other side. There is a cluster of houses at the bottom of the hill.

A trail leading down the hill, with a stone wall on the left and grass bank on the right, and lots of trees at the bottom, when walking down off Fremington Edge.

The rocky path leading towards a wooden gate, after walking down off Fremington Edge. The path is lined with stone walls, and there is a stone walled cottage on the other side of the wall on the right.

Through the gate, turn left.

A track leading through an open wooden gate. The track is lined with stone walls. There is a cluster of stone buildings ahead on the other side of the wall.

Walk through the valley

You will then walk in between the curving stone walls to reach a very large field, which you go straight across, with the wall of Fremington Edge looming above to your left.

A path lined with stone walls, and a stone walled cottage on the left side, partway through the Fremington Edge circular walk.

A trail leading straight across a large grass field, with Fremington Edge rising up above to the left. — That’s Fremington Edge to the left

The path leading through an opening in the stone wall, going from one field to another, on the walk though the bottom of the valley, with Fremington Edge rising up to the left.

Keep going all the way to reach the river, and gate.

A wide path leading to a wooden gate, with a road corner on the other side. There is a group of trees on the other side of the road.

Through the gate, you want to stick to the river edge. After seeing this, I was so glad I didn’t have to cross over:

A walkway into the river, which is filled with rocks and lined with trees.

The trail will then take you alongside the river, in and out of the trees, and maybe cherry blossoms if you are lucky (or timed it just right).

A ground with tufts of grass and tree roots, with the river to the right, which is lined with lots of trees.

The trail leading through gap in the stone wall, leading from one field to another. there is a mass of trees ahead.

A wooden walkway through the woodland trees.

Then at the next trail sign, follow it, along the hillside.

A wooden signpost rising up tall in the grass field.

A narrow trail cutting across the side of a steep grass hill, towards some trees ahead.

I didn’t know what to expect on this section of the Fremington Edge circular walk through the valley, and had debated staying higher up for the views. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the views down here are also wonderful, mixed in with lots of prettiness.

A row of trees, with a peak rising up on the other side, partway through the Fremington Edge circular walk.

Looking across the field and over the tree tops, to a cottage on the hill in the distance, on the Fremington Edge circular walk.

Keep going along the trail as it gently undulates along the hillside, passing by stone sheds. Then when you reach the grass trail junction (last photo below), take the right.

A rugged dirt trail with trees roots, and a big tree leaning over it.

a narrow trail cutting across the steep grassy hillside, towards a small stone shed ahead, on the circular Fremington Edge walk.

A wooden walking through the tall grass and boggy ground.

A wooden signpost on the right side of the trail.

A grass trail split across the field. — Go right here

Follow it, where it will soon take you slightly uphill (I know I said there were no more uphills, but this one is only small, so it doesn’t count), to reach the stone wall and gate.

A narrow trail leading ahead through a field with unkempt grass. There is a small stone wall to the right, with some green leafy trees on the other side.

A barely visible path through the grass field with unkept grass, and a rooftop visible ahead over the hill.

A wooden gate in a stone wall, with a rooftop visible over the wall.

Walk through more fields

Go through the gate, then straight across towards the farmhouse on the other side, then through two more gates.

A stone wall running straight head across a large grass field, partway through the Fremington Edge circular walk. There is a stone walled farm house on the other side of the field.

A wooden gate with part of the stone walled farmhouse visible to the right.

A red metal gate with a stone wall to the left, and sheep on the other side of the fence.

Through the second gate, keep going straight, over the next stone wall, and through another field, and another gate and stone wall.

A yellow arrow on a rock, pointing straight ahead across a large grass field.

A small wooden gate in the stone wall, on the walk back towards Reeth, with Fremington Edge visible past the trees to the left.

More prettiness and the tractors

You will now be lead down through the pretty trees, and onto more undulating fields, with more pretty views all around.

Looking across the undulating grass field with a white cherry blossom tree to the right, and a stone wall and green leafy trees to the left.

It was here that I heard a noise and looked over to see lots and lots of tractors. I counted about 10 of them going along the road in the distance. I wondered what that was about. Some sort of tractor festival?

Looking towards an undulating hillside, with lots of tractor deriving along the road on top.

Keep following the grass trail down, through another stone wall, and then past some surprise cottage ruins, to reach the river at the bottom.

Looking down a grass field, with a stone wall across it ahead, and a small grassy hill rising up on the other side. There is a mass of green leafed trees to the left side of the fields, and ahead in the distance.

Stone walled cottage ruins, surround by trees, on the circular walk back to Reeth from Fremington Edge.

A gravel path with part of a stone wall visible to the left, and a mass off trees on the other side of the river ahead.

Continue alongside the river, then at the trail signpost (second photo below), continue straight.

A gras Hilton, with a river filled with rocks and fallen trees to the right. There are masses of green leafed trees ahead.

The rugged path leading through a gap in the tone wall, towards the green leafed woodland trees. There is a wooden signpost next to the stone wall on the left.

The final stretch of the Fremington Edge circular walk

This will take you on an undulating rocky and gravelly type trail, first through the pretty trees, and then alongside the stone wall.

A gravel path leading through the woodland trees.

A gravel path leading through a gap in a stone wall.

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

Looking down across the undulating grass fields, with groups of green leafed trees, and some cottages ahead in the distance, near the end of the Fremington Edge walk.

The path leading straight across the undulating hillside, with a stone wall to the right.

After a big curve to the left then right, you will reach the trail sign you past near the start. Follow the direction to the right through the gate, and you should know where you are now. From here, make you way back to Reeth the way you came.

A wooden trail signpost on the right, with a stone wall to the right of it. There is a view to fields and trees of the valley ahead. — Turn right here

Looking down the grass undulating hillside at the end of the Fremington Edge walk. There is a stone walled shed down the hill to there right, and stone walls dividing the fields in the distance to the left.

When I arrived back, it was timed just right for all those tractors I saw earlier, coming down the road. Or did I time it wrong? They were very loud. Jarringly so.

Pin it for later: Fremington Edge Circular walk

Fremington Edge walking guide in the Yorkshire Dales.

You can find out more about the Swaledale area, and it’s history, on the Yorkshire Dales website.