Discover Stunning Views on the Fremington Edge Walk in the Yorkshire Dales
Begin your Fremington Edge walk in the centre of Reeth, where you’ll find ample parking in the village centre. The large cobbled area in front of the pubs is a convenient spot to leave your car, but alternative parking around the village greens is available if needed. Once parked, start your hike by heading downhill on the B6270, as if leaving for Leyburn and Richmond. You’ll soon cross Arkle Beck via a road bridge, marking the official start of your adventure.
After crossing the bridge, pass through a gate in the dry stone wall, following the sign for Fremington. The public footpath ahead takes you across open fields, gradually ascending alongside a dry stone wall. When you reach the top of this small hill, join a narrow tarmac road and continue past Briar Cottage. Shortly after, pass another house, Brambles, before taking a left turn onto the next footpath. As the path rejoins another narrow tarmac road, turn left and continue uphill, ignoring any side paths signposted to Arkengarthdale.
This section of the Fremington Edge walk begins the ascent up the steep slopes of Fremington Edge. As you climb, the tarmac road eventually gives way to a rugged stone track. Keep moving uphill, and at the summit, you’ll reach a gate and a dry stone wall. Pass through the gate, turning left as you follow the footpath indicated by a sign marked ‘footpath only’. The trail runs along Fremington Edge Top, offering panoramic views as you walk beside the wall for approximately 1¼ miles (2 kilometres).
As the path comes to a gentle end, veer slightly left, descending through another gate to join a bridleway. Look out for small cairns guiding your way as you make your way downhill. At a wooden post marked with a bridleway sign, consider a short detour to the large cairn at Fell End, where you can enjoy breathtaking views. After soaking in the scenery, return to the wooden post and continue your descent, passing more cairns as the trail zigzags downhill through the remnants of old lead mines.
Continue along the bridleway, passing through a gate signposted to Langthwaite. The track soon turns into a grassy path, leading you downhill towards Storthwaite Hall. Walk past the front of the house to reach a footbridge, which you’ll cross before ascending a concrete track. After a short climb, turn right, following the public footpath signposted to Slei Gill. A little further on, take another left and continue uphill along a grassy path to reach the hamlet of Booze.
When you reach Booze, turn left and follow the concrete track through the hamlet. Continue walking as the concrete track transitions into a narrow tarmac road. This road will guide you all the way down to the picturesque village of Langthwaite. Walk straight through the village, passing the Red Lion on your right, and cross Arkle Beck via the road bridge. Take a right to follow the main road up to the village church. After a quick visit, retrace your steps and turn left to cross the bridge back into Langthwaite.
Upon crossing the bridge, take the right-hand bridleway, which runs alongside the beck, signposted for Fremington. The path will wind through the peaceful valley for two-thirds of a mile (1 kilometre), eventually splitting. Keep right to stay alongside the beck, following it for another half-mile (800 metres). The trail will split again—stay to the right and continue through the fields until you reach the farm at Castle.
Walk past the rear of the farmhouse and continue along the footpath as it meets a bridleway. Stick to this bridleway, keeping the dry stone wall on your right for about half a mile (800 metres). When you reach a tall wooden signpost marked ‘public bridleway’, turn right and pass through a small wooden gate in the dry stone wall. A grassy footpath now leads you downhill past a stone barn and through several fields.
After approximately two-thirds of a mile (1 kilometre), you’ll arrive at the main road. Turn right here, crossing the road bridge, and continue straight ahead. The road will lead you back into Reeth, completing your Fremington Edge walk.
Fremington Edge Walk: Maps and Tools
Visit either the OS Maps website or the Outdooractive website to view this walking route in greater detail. Both platforms offer a range of features, including the ability to print the route, download it to your device, and export the route as a GPX file. You can also watch a 3D fly-over and share the route on social media.
Fremington Edge Walk: Distance, Duration, Statistics
Distance: 9½ miles
Distance: 15¼ kilometres
Duration: 4¾ hours
Ascent: 1634 feet
Ascent: 498 metres
Type: Circular walk
Recommended Ordnance Survey Map
The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area, reference OS Explorer OL30, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.
Standard Version
About Fremington Edge
Fremington Edge is a dramatic 3-mile (4.8-kilometre) escarpment located north of the village of Reeth, in Swaledale, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It runs in a north-west to south-east direction. To the north-west, it stretches to Fell End, about half a mile (0.8 kilometres) east of Slei Gill. At its south-east end, it extends roughly to Reels Head. The escarpment overlooks the valley of Arkengarthdale in its north-western section. It overlooks the meeting point of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale in its south-eastern section.
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Fremington Edge was shaped following the last Ice Age, when meltwater from retreating glaciers triggered a landslip, exposing the rocky outcrops that define its rugged character. Evidence of an Iron Age fort and a settlement predating the 8th-century arrival of the Anglo-Saxons can still be found along the escarpment. Scattered across the landscape are remnants of old lead and chert mines, with many disused shafts and spoil heaps. The mined chert was once transported by lorry to Staffordshire, where it was used in the production of china and porcelain.
Fremington Edge Walk: My Photos
After a short walk from Reeth, we cross the fields towards High Fremington. Leaving the hamlet behind, we begin our climb up a narrow tarmac road lined with trees. The road is steep, but it’s peaceful with no traffic, making it an enjoyable start to our Fremington Edge walk.
As we continue climbing the tarmac road, it isn’t long before we start getting wonderful views of Reeth to our left. Below us, the patchwork of green fields stretches out, and we can spot a footpath winding through them. This footpath will guide us back to Reeth at the end of our walk.
Our ascent of Fremington Edge brings us even better views, particularly to the north-west, where we can see down into Arkengarthdale valley. Later in the afternoon, we will walk back through this valley, making the return journey just as scenic.
The climb up Fremington Edge from High Fremington is straightforward. We start on a narrow tarmac road, which soon becomes a stone track as it winds its way up the hillside. As we walk, we pass through the disused Fremington Edge Chert Quarries, where the spoil heaps left behind from quarrying are still clearly visible.
For most of our climb up Fremington Edge, we are treated to superb views. From the site of the Fremington Edge Chert Quarries, we look west towards Calver Hill. In the valley below, the trees trace the path of Arkle Beck, which flows through Arkengarthdale and eventually joins the River Swale near Grinton, south-east of Reeth.
When we finally reach the top of Fremington Edge, we turn left and follow the footpath along the dry stone wall. A well-positioned sign marks the way, ensuring that we stay on track.
The path across Fremington Edge Top follows the dry stone wall in a north-westerly direction. It’s easy to navigate and comfortable to walk along, although it can become a bit boggy in winter. Thankfully, today the ground is firm underfoot.
The walk along Fremington Edge Top covers about 1¼ miles (2 kilometres). The route is flat and easy to follow. Initially, the views are somewhat restricted due to the high dry stone wall on our left and the broad, flat plateau we are walking across. However, as we continue, the scenery opens up, making the experience both exhilarating and deeply rewarding.
After walking for 1¼ miles (2 kilometres) along Fremington Edge Top, we spot a gate in the dry stone wall. This marks our exit point, where we follow a bridleway that leads us down the hill.
The bridleway starts with a gentle descent, and we notice several small cairns that guide our way. Even without them, the well-worn path would be easy to follow, but the cairns add a reassuring presence.
As we continue downhill, the bridleway passes through the disused Fell End Lead Mine. Spoil heaps are scattered across the landscape, evidence of the extensive mining that once took place here. Reaching the first wooden post marked with a blue bridleway symbol, we make a mental note of its location. We’ll return to this point later, but for now, we take a short detour to visit a large cairn with impressive views.
The large cairn at Fell End, shaped like a cone or pyramid, can be seen from miles away. It’s well worth the short detour to reach it. Standing here, we are roughly one third of the way through our Fremington Edge walk.
From the large cairn, we enjoy a view looking west towards the hamlet of Booze, which will be our next destination. Behind it, we can see the vast expanse of Reeth High Moor. The landscape here is dotted with disused tips and spoil heaps, remnants of the lead mining industry that once thrived in this area.
Looking south from the cairn, we see the Arkengarthdale valley below. Arkle Beck flows between the trees, winding its way through the valley. This will be our route back to Reeth later on.
From the cairn, we have another beautiful view. In the background is Calver Hill, while in the foreground, the trees lining Arkle Beck are clearly visible as it flows through Arkengarthdale.
After enjoying the views from the cairn, we return to the wooden bridleway marker post we passed earlier. We continue downhill, following the cairns that mark the route. The path is clear and easy to follow.
The bridleway meanders downhill, zigzagging across the fell. In this shot, we can still see the large cairn at Fell End, where we enjoyed those fantastic views. The landscape around us is full of spoil heaps and other relics of the lead mining industry that once flourished here.
As we descend, we look west towards the hamlet of Booze, our next stop. The village sits on the other side of a valley, with a stream called Slei Gill running through the bottom. To reach Booze, we’ll need to descend into the valley, cross the stream, and climb up the opposite hillside.
In addition to the cairns guiding our way, we spot a wooden post with a yellow-painted top, showing us the route. We follow the grassy bridleway downhill towards Storthwaite Hall.
The bridleway leads us downhill through a gate in the dry stone wall. A signpost clearly indicates the way to Langthwaite, so we continue following the grassy track.
We descend further, following the track between two dry stone walls. Calver Hill stands tall in the background as we make our way towards Storthwaite Hall.
Upon reaching Storthwaite Hall, we turn right and walk past the front of this charming old building, which adds to the character of the landscape.
A little further on, we come to a recently installed wooden footbridge. Crossing Slei Gill, we turn left on the other side and continue along the path. However, we need to be alert, as there’s a sharp right turn ahead that leads us up the grassy bank we can see in front of us.
From the top of the grassy bank, we look back and spot the wooden footbridge we just crossed over Slei Gill, as well as Storthwaite Hall. In the distance, the large cairn at Fell End is still visible, reminding us of the stunning views we enjoyed earlier.
After passing through the hamlet of Booze, we continue walking along a concrete track. The track leads past a large house nestled into the hillside, offering more picturesque scenery along the way.
The concrete track soon narrows and turns into a tarmac lane. We follow this downhill towards Langthwaite. This marks the halfway point of our Fremington Edge walk.
As we make our way down the lane, we glance to the left and spot the village of Langthwaite below. We can see the village green, with its solitary tree and a couple of benches, where we decide to stop for lunch. To the right of the green, we notice the former Wesleyan chapel, which we will pass on our way to visit the church after our break.
Reaching the bottom of the hill, we walk through Langthwaite and pass the Red Lion Inn. This pub has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, most notably All Creatures Great and Small, which featured actors such as Robert Hardy, Christopher Timothy, Peter Davison, and Carol Drinkwater. The inn’s interior and exterior were used in several episodes during the filming, which took place between 1977 and 1991.
By the village green where we have our lunch, we spot a beautifully preserved 19th-century iron wagon. This wagon is one of many that were once used to transport lead ore and waste from the miles of underground workings in the area. These wagons were typically horse-drawn and ran on narrow iron rails, some of which can still be found in the old mines. While lead mining in the Yorkshire Dales dates back to Roman times, it wasn’t until the early 18th century that commercial mining became widespread. The Arkengarthdale mines were purchased by Dr John Bathurst, physician to Oliver Cromwell, in 1656. His son Theodore and grandson Charles continued the mining operations under the name C.B. Company.
Continuing along the road from the village green, we pass the former Wesleyan chapel, which is now a private residence. The chapel is situated next to a small cemetery, adding to its peaceful charm.
Just a little further along the road, we come across a World War I memorial and a seating area, providing a quiet spot for reflection.
We soon arrive at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, the parish church of Arkengarthdale. Originally, a medieval church stood in Arkle Town, but its foundations were undermined by Arkle Beck, leading to its demolition in the 1810s.
The present Church of St Mary the Virgin was built in 1818, funded by George Brown, lord of the manor. Although it shares architectural features with Commissioners’ churches, it wasn’t financed by parliamentary funds, and therefore is not officially classified as one.
The church is built from rubble stone and features a slate roof. Its design includes a combined five-bay nave and chancel, a north vestry, and a three-stage west tower. The lower stages of the tower have blank windows, while the upper stage features belfry openings. Most windows are two-light with Y-tracery, except for the east window, which has four lights. Thin buttresses separate the window pairs, adding to the building’s architectural appeal.
Inside the Church of St Mary the Virgin, there is a west gallery and two fonts, one original and another from 1891. The pews date from the late 19th century, while the pulpit and altar rail remain original. The church also features a reredos and plaque crafted by renowned woodcarver Robert Thompson.
After visiting the church, we retrace our steps and cross the bridge over Arkle Beck, returning to the main part of Langthwaite. This bridge was featured in the opening credits of All Creatures Great and Small, where James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) and Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy) can be seen crossing in their black motor vehicle.
As we cross the bridge, we look to the right and spot the stone track running alongside Arkle Beck, which is the path we need to follow next.
We follow the stone track along the beck, leaving the picturesque village of Langthwaite behind. The sound of the flowing water and the rustling trees makes this part of the walk particularly peaceful.
The tree-lined path along Arkle Beck is delightful. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The atmosphere is calm and serene, adding to the overall enjoyment of our walk.
Our route continues through Arkengarthdale, leading us through a mysterious tunnel. At this point, we are about two-thirds of the way through our Fremington Edge walk.
Emerging from the woodland, we find ourselves in a large open area of countryside and cross Slei Gill via a footbridge. This spot is not far from the other footbridge we crossed earlier near Storthwaite Hall.
The area is beautiful as we continue our walk alongside Arkle Beck. We’ve been lucky with the weather, as it’s sunny, dry, and perfect for walking.
From our path in the valley, we look up to the left and see the large cairn on Fell End, where we took in those stunning views earlier in the day.
Continuing through the valley, we pass a derelict farmhouse at Castle. The roof is missing in places, and the walls are crumbling. Wild vegetation grows around its base, adding to its sense of abandonment.
As we walk alongside Arkle Beck, we notice signs of the devastating floods that occurred here in July 2019. These floods caused widespread damage, washing away many trees along the beck and leaving a lasting impact on the landscape. Homes and businesses in Reeth were severely affected, and Arkengarthdale, Swaledale, and Wensleydale suffered extensive damage. The floods destroyed at least 13 footbridges, eroded 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometres) of footpaths, and left many rights of way damaged or completely blocked by debris. By the end of December 2019, more than a dozen paths in the area remained closed due to the destruction caused by the floodwaters.
After passing Castle, our route continues along a dry stone wall for some time. The path meanders through the countryside below Fremington Edge, offering lovely views along the way.
Eventually, we reach Cuckoo Hill, where we find a gate in the dry stone wall. Passing through, we walk onto meadowland, passing a barn. The path across the fields leads us back to Reeth, marking the end of our fantastic Fremington Edge walk.
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