The genesis of the River Swale is the blanket bog around Lady Dike Head on Birkdale Common. This is where the river is conceived and nourished, in a continual cycle of draining and replenishing. The River Swale is 73 miles long, whereupon it is subsumed by the the River Ure at Myton-on-Swale in the Vale of York.

Whitsundale Beck converges with the River Swale at High Bridge near Hoggarths Farm and Camp Site. Whitsundale Beck began life as the Backstone Beck, east of Nine Standards Rigg and sited within the blanket bog of Birkdale Common. Its course takes it between Ravenseat Moor and Birkdale Common, and also west of West Stonesdale Out Pasture.

Following its merger with the Whitsundale Beck at High Bridge, en route to Low Bridge the River Swale passes through a short riverbank of exposed Yoredale Limestone, a forerunner of Cotterby Scar a few hundred yards further east.

From Beldi Hill, just outside of Keld on the Coast to Coast path, a view lengthways along the River Swale can be obtained, revealing the River gliding towards Swinner Gill and Muker.

On the bend in the River Swale as it is met by the Swinner Gill, the flat alluvial plain caught in the Swale's loop is that upon which the hamlet of Hartlakes once thrived. Many of its dwellings still survive. Muker is found at the far end of the Swale in this image, before the River bends east at Rampsholme.

At Muker the River Swale passes it by, bending, as it does, eastwards to make its way to Gunnerside. Before doing so, and shortly after passing the dense Ivelet woods the River meets Ramps Holme, where a distinctive raised bridge gives access to Muker.

The Coast to Coast path, which follows the River Swale for much of its Upper Swaledale course, is spanned by Ivelet Bridge, at an angle that almost always provides a hauntingly annular image. Yards to the west of the bridge the Swale is joined by Oxnop Beck.

From the hills above Gunnerside the hamlet of Satron can be observed at the valley floor below Oxnop. The fields that dominate the image are just starting to flower with the glorious yellows and whites of Swaledale Haylage.

Isles Bridge is a multi-arched bridge spanning the River Swale near Low Row. The foliar canopy delineates this stretch of riverbank, and the large tracts of stone each side of the bridge, provide a convenient location for wild swimming and picnics.

From Harker Mires on the south bank of the River Swale there is an appealing view of a small suspension bridge conveying a footpath across the Swale. This allows ramblers from Grinton and Reeth to enjoy circular walks along the banks of the Swale.

Two hundred yards east of Grinton Bridge the Arkle Beck converges with the River Swale. A path across fields from just outside of Reeth, that leads to Grinton, provides easy access to attain the point of confluence of these two watercourses.

The Coast to Coast path, at Applegarth Scar, permits a fieldscape across the River Swale to the lush apple-hued fields north of Thorpe Under Stone on the south riverbank. Applegarth Low Wood on the north riverbank adds to the foliar delight.

At Richmond Swaledale comes to an end. From here onwards the River Swale flows through fields and fallow. Seen from Richmond Falls the River, in wet weather, is lethally turbulent. The image was taken on a sunny winter day, about 6 hours after rainfall. Its reputation for rising quickly is not exaggerated.

Coast to Coast Trail Guide

"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.