How to Walk the Breathtaking Gunnerside Gill

Gunnerside Gill is a valley in the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales, and is stunning to walk through. It it without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I have walked in England.

Looking across the undulating grass field with hay patches on the walk though Gunnerside Gill. There is a small stone hut ahead, and small hill rising up on the other side.

Looking down through the valley of brown coloured moorland hills on the walk through Gunnerside Gill. There are mine ruins in the distance on the right side of the hill.

I am actually in awe of Swaledale.

My first walk up here was this circular from Muker a week before, which I was so blown away by, that I decided to come back to try Gunnerside Gill.

And it was even better.

What I’m going to do in this guide, is first give you an overview of the walk through Gunnerside Gill, with full logistics, a map and useful tips. I will then go on to describe the route step by step with lots of photos, so you can see what it’s like.

What to expect on the Gunnerside Gill walk

For the first half of this walk, you will be following the excessively (but beautiful) rocky Gunnerside Beck. You will also walk along the curvy undulating hillside, with the most wonderful view through the valley of Gunnerside Gill, passing my many lead mining ruins, and waterfalls with dipping pools.

A mass of large rocks in the river, surround by green leafy trees on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

Stone ruins in the valley with a hill rising up ahead, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

Looking down into the valley with hills of green and orange, part way through the Gunnerside Gill walk in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. There is a gorge in the hill, on the other side of the valley, with trees along the left side of it.

The river flowing through the bottom of the Gunnerside Gill valley, part way through the walk. There are stone mine ruins on the right side of the river.

Looking down towards there river at the bottom of the valley, and a waterfall dropping into a pool of water, halfway through the Gunnerside Gill walk. The valley hills are covered in orange coloured dead fern, and brown heather.

Looking down the hill and along the valley, with undulating hills ahead, on the walk along the edge of Gunnerside Gill. The hills are in shades of orange and green.

The walk back takes you higher up above Gunnerside Gill, and finishes off with some quintessential, and maybe a bit stereotypical, Yorkshire living views.

Looking down to the hills die in shades of brown, orange and green, with a stone building ruin camouflaged into the hill.

A green grass undulating hillside with a fern stone sheds dotted about, bear the end of the Gunnerside Gill circular walk, in the Yorkshire Dales. There are stone walls diving the fields in a rugged manor.

How long is the Gunnerside Gill walk?

The route I followed through Gunnerside Gill and back is 7 miles. You can tailor the walk to suit your preference though. There is one main trail through the bottom of the valley, but there will be opportunities along the way to take another trail back. I will show you these when I describe the route below.

Is the walk challenging?

I would rate the Gunnerside Gill walk as moderate. Most of it is fairly easy, but there are some hills, a lot of undulations, rugged terrain, and some very thin trails with steep drops

A rugged dirt trail on the right side of the large rock filled river, near the start of the walk through Gunnerside Gill. The river and trail are surround by green leafy trees.

A narrow dirt trail on the side of a hill, with a mass of trees at the bottom to the left, and on the trail right side of the trail.

A rugged and rocky section of the trail, along the hillside.

Is the walk dog friendly?

You can walk your dog through Gunnerside Gill, but there are a few things to be aware of. First off, there are some stiles, but they all have a dog sized holes in the fence. There is livestock (sheep) about, but these don’t appear until a bit further in. I did see a sign warning of adders, and endangers birds breeding.

A sheep standing on the rugged dirt trail on the hillside, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

Looking down the hill with a grass undulating flat area, part way through the Gunnerside Gill circular walk. There is a couple of white sheep sitting. There is a big hill rising up in the distance.

Parking in Gunnerside

I have been informed there is a car park just over the bridge, with an honesty box for payment. I missed it, but you can also just park on the roadside, which is free. This is what it did, I parked along the road before the bridge.

A large area of neatly cut grass, divided up with curving stone walls, at the start of the walk to Gunnerside Gill. There are a few stone sheds dotted about. There is a hill with trees in the distance on the other side. — I parked overlooking this

The road leading through the village of Gunnerside, lined with stone walled houses. There is a red car parked on the roadside ahead.

Tips for walking Gunnerside Gill

I recommend hiking boots due to the rocks.
If you like taking dips in wild locations, take some swimwear/a towel. There are a number of waterfalls dropping into pools.
Once you reach the other end of Gunnerside Gill, I might suggest walking back the way you came for the first part (I will show you what I mean when I describe the route below). Taking the circular route, I found the first part back confusing, trying to navigate the heather.
Following on from the above point, the walk along the bottom of Gunnerside Gill was way way better than the walk back higher up. If I was to do it again, I would walk the whole way back the way I came. That way I could enjoy the stunning views from the other direction.

There is no phone signal, so look up what you need to look up before you get there.

Logistics

Start/Finish: Gunnerside
Where is it: Gunnerside Gill is located in Swaledale, in the very north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Post code for the area is DL11 6LE.
Public transport: The 831 bus runs through Gunnerside Gill, between Middlesborough, Richmond, Reeth, and Hawes. Very very infrequently. Bus 30 runs Mon-Sat from Catterick to Keld via Reeth. There are only a few a day. You can see the timetable here.

Distance: 7 miles
Time: 2h 45min
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: Grass, dirt trail, rocks, tree roots, stones over the river, gravel, road. A little bit of mud.
Elevation: The trail undulates a lot, mixed in with sections of flat, and a few little hills.
Amenities: Gunnerside has public toilets and one pub, the Kings Head. There is nothing for the whole route through Gunnerside Gill.

Time of year: I did it in spring

Map for the Gunnerside Gill walk

You can find my more detailed route map for the Gunnerside Gill walk on Alltrails.

Route description for the walk through Gunnerside Gill

Starting in Gunnerside, walk through the village and turn up this road here:

Looking along the road in Gunnerside, with a side road going uphill to the right. There is a stone wall on the right, and a stone walled house on the left. There is a white car parked infant of a house in the road junction.

Looking down the green small hill to a cluster of stone walled houses and cottages in Gunnerside.

Further up, you will reach the trail signpost. Follow it straight, through a tiny gap in the houses.

A wooden trail signpost pointing right for Gunnerside Gill.

A wooden plaque on a stone wall saying 'footpath only, no right to cycle'. There are steps to the right side of the wall.

Next, continue on the little grass ridge, towards the cottage and gate on the other side. Then through the gate, turn right to go through the next gate, then follow the path left.

Looking down and along the green grass hillside, divided with a stone wall, and a cottage nestled within the trees on the other side, at the start of the walk towards Gunnerside Gill.

A stone wall leading to a stone wall ahead, with a small wooden gate. there is a cottage on the other side of the wall ahead.

A small wooden gate in a stone wall, with a red sign saying 'Ground nesting birds'. There is a green grass hill on the other side.

Soon you will walk alongside the beck (AKA river), which will guide you all the way through Gunnerside Gill. When I first saw the beck, I was mesmerised. It was just so rocky, carving its way through the ground.

A large open green area, with the ruins of a stone wall ahead.

A winding river filled with big rocks, surrounded by bushy leaved trees, at the start of the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

A small thin dirt trail on the grass on the right, and the river filled with rocks snaking ahead on the left. There is a mass of bushy leaved woodland trees ahead and to the left side of the river.

The beck will then disappear for a moment, but just keep following the rocks around the corner, and then through the little gate into the woods.

A rocky trail along the bottom of a grass hill, with a wire fence on the right, with trees on the other side.

A dirt trail leading to a small wooden gate, leading into the woods. There is a wooden fence on the left.

A dirt trail on a hillside, under the woodland trees, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

Gunnerside Beck and the woods

A short way along, you will be back alongside the insanely rocky beck. It just gets better and better. I wondered if when the water level is higher, you see all these rocks. These rocks just made it so unique.

A dirt trail on the right, and a mass of rocks on the left, leading out of the woods ahead.

After a little bit or rock walking, with some dirt trail thrown in, under the fairytale like greenery, you will reach a gate and steps to the right. Go that way.

Looking along a mass of rocks, with tree branches hanging down from above.

A dirt trail lined with greenery, and leaning trees on the right, hanging over the trail.

A wooden gate on the right, in a stone wall, leading to steps . There are big trees overhanging over the wall and steps on the right.

The trail now undulates for some time, along narrow dirt trail, with a few trees roots, and a steep drop to the side.

A narrow dirt trail in the woods, on the edge of a hill, with the drop to the left, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill. The trees have thin trunks with thin branches hanging all over the place.

A narrow dirt trail on the hillside on the right, with a steep drop to the left, and a mass of green leafy trees ahead and below.

A grass hill under the woodland trees, with a dirt trail with tree roots leading up.

Looking over a stone wall, to a green grass undulating hill on the other side, with a stone shed on the side of the hill, when walking through Gunnerside Gill.

A dirt trail winding through a gap in the trees, lined with patches of grass and dead orange fern.

When you reach the end, there is a little piece of wood bridge to cross over. Then follow the yellow arrows through the walls (there are two) where you will now be out in the open.

A small stream of water with a small wooden plank crossing ahead. The stream is surround by grass and thin trunked trees, with straggly branches.

A small wooden gate in the stone wall, and a yellow arrow pointing through it on the left side.

A small stone shed sitting at the bottom of the grass hill, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

The first ruins

Through the second wall, turn left. Follow this wall, along the edge of the fields, over some stepping stones, and through a gap in a stone wall.

A stone wall on the left, with a field filled with tufts of tall orange grass on the right. There is a section of wet ground ahead next to the wall, with some stepping stones.

A stone wall ahead, cutting across the grass field. There is a hill ahead, and some orange tufts of grass in the field.

Continuing straight, you should be led to a little gate to go through the stone wall again. There are some yellow arrows here, which will lead you to the first of the mine ruins.

A trail leading to a wooden gate in the stone wall on the left. In the distance on the other side is a hill covered in green leafy trees.

A wooden trail signpost on the left, with a yellow arrow pointing straight ahead along the rugged stoney dirt trail, with a hill rising up in the distance.

Looking towards the ruins of an old mining building at the bottom of the valley.

This is Sir Frances Dressing floor. This is where lead ore, galena was crushed and sorted.

Some more little ruins

Continue past, with the wonderful rocky beck to your left, and then over the stile with a dog hole cut out of the fence, and up the grass trail on the hill ahead.

The river filled with rocks flowing ahead on the left, through the valley. There is a hill covered in green leaved trees and orange fern on the left. and some orange fern on the gourd to the right.

A wooden stile surround by dead orange fern, with a strip of grass trail running through the middle of it. There is a small hill ahead covered in green leafy trees.

Don’t worry, the hill is short. However, it leads you onto a narrow dirt trail, with some tree roots and a steep drop.

A dirt trail leading steeply uphill, with tree roots across it. There is a stone wall at the top of the hill.

A think trail with a steep drop down the hill to the left, and a stone wall to the right. There is a mass of green leafy trees down the hill on the left.

Looking down to the river below on the walk through Gunnerside Gill. There is a hill rising up on the other side. The hill is covered in orange fern and green leafy trees.

Across the next stile with a dog hole cut out, you will get a view to some more ruins ahead. The ruins so far are just a taster of the big ones to come.

A wooden stile ahead, with a stone wall to the right.

A thin trail at the bottom of the hill on the right, with the river filled with rocks to the left, part way through the Gunnerside Gill walk. There is a stone walled ruin on the other side, at the bottom of the other hill.

This trail will then lead you up through a stone wall, then up some more, now along a grass trail that you almost can’t see.

A rugged dirt trial leading up to a stone wall. There is dead orange fern on the right side of the trail.

A wide strip of grass trail leading up the hill which is covered in dead flattened orange fern.

Keep going until you reach the stone wall, then walk alongside it (wall to your left).

A strip of grass trail on the hill side, with a stone wall on the left.

Walk along the Gunnerside Gill hillside

For some time now, the trail is level (with undulations), as it guides you along the hillside. As you walk along here, the views are spectacular, looking down along the valley of Gunnerside Gill both ways. With gorges cut into the hills, and undulating hills surrounding you.

Looking down into the valley with hills of green and orange, part way through the Gunnerside Gill walk. There is a gorge in the hill, on the other side of the valley, with trees along the left side of it.

A dirt trail on the right on the hill side, with the valley below to the left, and a hill rising up on the other side, part way along the Gunnerside Gill walk.

When you reach the junction, turn left (the photo below is looking back the other way). This is one of the ways you can walk back. But don’t walk back yet, the best is still to come.

A thin gravel trial on the left, on the hill side, with a big pile of rocks on the right side of it. There is a small trail signpost next to the trail with a yellow and blue arrow. — I’m looking back here

Bunting mine

As you continue along the hillside, you will soon get a view to the ruins of Bunting Mine ahead. Looking over to it, perched on the little hill, it reminded me of castle ruins. I imagined this being the location of my house, looking down over my own valley.

Looking through the valley with grey and brown moorland hills, part way into the Gunnerside Gill walk. There is a thin trail on the right, on the hillside.

A gravel dirt trail on the right, leading towards old mining building ruins, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

Looking across to a hill in shades of grey, brown, and green, with stone walled ruins sitting on the side of the hill, partway through the Gunnerside Gill walk.

When you reach the mine ruins, continue past to reach the junction with a trail signpost.

A wooden trail signpost pointing in all four directions, with the valley dip ahead on the other side. — Go straight but slightly left here

I had a look at my map, and I could have gone a number of ways. The trail to the right along the hillside looked steep, slanty, and slippy, so I took the one along the bottom of the hill to the left. Having now done it, definitely take the left.

A thin gravel dirt trial winding along the moorland hillside.

Waterfalls and ruins

The left trail will take you back down alongside the Gunnerside Beck. One thing about this walk through Gunnerside Gill, is that with all the curviness of the hills, you never know what is around the corner. I was constantly surprised, in a good way.

A thin trail along the side of a hill which is covered in brown heather.

The next gem on this walk is the ruins of Blakethwaite Smelting Mill. It’s also here that you will find the first mini waterfall.

The river leading ahead on the left, which is filled with rocks. There is a rugged stone paved trail on the right side, through the grass, with some stone ruins ahead, and a big hill rising up ahead in the distance.

Looking along a wide strip of grass with stone walled ruins on wither side, and a big hill rising up ahead, on the walk through Gunnerside Gill.

A stone wall on the right, and the river with small waterfalls flowing on the left, near the end of the first half of the walk through Gunnerside Gill. There is a big hill ahead.

If you don’t like heights, or are a bit clumsy, this might be a good point to turn back. You see that trail up the hill past the ruin. That’s the next bit. The trail is very narrow, with a steep drop.

The river filled with rocks leading straight ahead on the right, through the bottom of the valley. There is a big hill on the left, with a thin trail running up it. There are stone walled building ruins at the bottom of the hill. — See that trail up the hill on the left. That’s the one.

Looking down the hill into the Gunnerside Gill valley dip, on the walk along the thin grass hillside trail. There is a river flowing along the bottom, towards some waterfalls. — This is the trail in question on the left

It does lead you to something wonderful though….

Looking down into the Gunnerside Gill valley dip, part way through the walk through the Swaledale area of the Yorkshire Dales. There is a waterfall dropping into a pool of water at the bottom.

This is also where you want to cross over the water, which involves picking whichever rocks look the safest.

The final bit through the valley

The trail now starts to take you uphill, with a view to the rocky cliff on the other side. You will get a view down to some more waterfalls, including ones with dipping pools. Looking back, you will have a lovely view of the Gunnerside Beck flowing through the valley.

A rocky trail leading straight ahead on the valley hillside.

A dirt trail on the right, with a drop down the hill to the left into the valley. On the other side of the valley on the left with as a big rock cliff.

A grass trail surround by brown heather, on the hillside.

Looking down through the valley with the river slowing straight ahead at the bottom.

This is the point at which I would turn back to walk through Gunnerside Gill. As I didn’t do that, I will continue to show you what comes next.

Make your way to the top of the hill

There is a little grass junction coming up, where you want to take the right. See photo below.

A grass trail split on the hillside. It is surround by brown heather and orange flattened fern. — Take the right grass trail here

This will take you uphill a bit more, then curve you around to head back.

A grass trail leading up the hill side, surrounded by flattened orange fern, with a big hill of brown heather ahead.

A thin trail on the left, leading up the hill which is covered in brown heather.

You need to somehow make your way up to the very top. My suggestion would be to take one of those green strips you can see ahead.

I did not do this, but instead followed the trail on the map, which lead me to an area where the trail was not apparent, and I did a lot of back and forth trying to find the way up, that didn’t involve stomping up the heather.

I eventually found the trail, complete engrossed by heather. It looks like this:

A mass of brown heather with a barely visible trail running through it.

Walk the long gravel road above Gunnerside Gill

When you find this road, turn right onto it:

A long straight white, gravely road, lined with patches of grass and brown heather.

One thing I didn’t mention, is how when on the walk through the valley of Gunnerside Gill, there was the constant sound of river and waterfalls. Up here, everything was silent. The landscape was bleak. Down below I was nice and warm. Up here I was cold. I couldn’t wait to get back down into the valley.

The next lot of navigation is a little confusing, so pay attention. When you reach the trail signpost, you can turn right if you want. This is what I was going to do, however, when I saw the sign warning of adders, I left and decided to take the next turning…whilst thinking about all the adders that were probably lurking during my heather navigation earlier.

A green sign warning of endangered birds and adders.

The next turning is not obvious. For reference, when you see this on the ground (first photo below), the right turn is a little further ahead:

A long straight gravel road, surround by rocks slabs and gravel.

A doe strip of gravel path, surrounded by by small rocks, and a hill ahead in the distance. — This is the right turn

Walk back down and along the Gunnerside Gill hillside

Walk down the gravel non obvious path, vearing to the left, looking out for the little strip of grass trail on the left:

A thin trail through the grass, with brown heather ahead.

Follow this strip, which will lead you through some heather, then along grass again.

You should hopefully soon see some ruins ahead to the right. This is where you are heading. There is a whole junction of non obvious trails coming up. Pick the ones that look like they will take you to those ruins.

A mass of brown heather, with a thin barely visible trail running through it.

Looking down the hill in shades of green and brown. — Those camouflaged ruins are where you need to head towards

Looking down the valley undulating hill, in shades of green, brown and grey.

Past the ruins, the trail is more obvious. You don’t need to navigate too much anymore. Just follow this trail which switches up between grass, dirt, and gravel.

A thin trail running through the grass, with tufts of orange grass and brown heather.

A thin dirt trail leading ahead along the side of the undulating green grassed hill. There are tufts of orange grass and heather dotted about.

A thin trail curving along the green grass hillside, with the valley below to the right.

You will now be walking back through Gunnerside Gill, this time a little higher up.

I did enjoy walking along this bit, and in another situation I would have been fully satisfied. However, I still think lower down is better. What was cool though, was recognising some of the ruins and gorges I had seen earlier on the way out.

Looking down into the valley, with a gorge cut into the hill on the other side, on the walk along the top of Gunnerside Gill. The hills are in shades of green and orange.

Walk back to Gunnerside

When the trail fully turns to grass fields, you will know you are nearing the end(ish). First there are some stone walls to walk through, and then you will get a lovely view down to the little stone sheds and cottages dotted across the undulating hillside ahead. This is what I always imagined Yorkshire looked like.

A grass path leading towards a stone wall and wooden gate.

A grass path leading through a gap in the stone wall.

Looking down the undulating green grassed hillside, with a few stone sheds dotted about, near the end of the Gunnerside Gill circular walk.

A grass trail leading ahead, with a view to lots of stone walls diving the fields in a rugged manor ahead.

Keep going along the grass trail, which turns to track type road past the cottage. Keep going, all the way to reach the gate on the right (the last photo).

A gravel and grass road track leading uphill, with a stone wall on the right and stone shed ahead on the right.

A gravel road winding ahead along the green grassed hillside.

Looking down across the undulating hills, to a cottage ahead, at the end of the Gunnerside Gill circular walk.

The dirt trail leading towards a metal gate in the stone wall.

This will lead you onto the road, which winds you all the way back down to Gunnerside.

A road winding ahead, surround by green grass. There is a stone walled shed ahead on the left side of the road.

The road leading down the side of a hill and curving around it to the left, with a view ahead to the undulating green grassed hills.

Looking down the grass hill, to the village of Gunnerside below.

More walks near Gunnerside Gill

If you like mine ruins, then you will find a whole lot more on the Old Gang Smelt walk. The first half of that walk I loved, the second half not so much. You can read a bit more about it in that guide, which I will get up soon.

This Muker circular walk, is a wonderful one. It takes you high above the valley, with gorgeous valley views, and then alongside the river, passing by a number of waterfalls.

Another one with wonderful valley views, is this route along Fremington Edge. It’s located in Reeth, which is just down the road. That’s a good old long hike, however, if you would prefer something short and easy, you might like this circular Reeth and swing bridge route.

Not too far from here, you could do some waterfall walks. This one around the Aystgath Falls is quite lovely, and has some fun stepping stones. This walk to Hardraw Force, showcases the largest single drop waterfall in England. These are both super easy, family friendly walks.

Not actually near Gunnerside, but further south in the Yorkshire Dales, I want to recommend this Simon’s Seat route. If you like Gunnerside Gill, then I think you will like that walk too.

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Gunnerside Gill walking guide, in Yorkshire.