1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
1. Raby Castle
Meeting Point: Raby Castle
We begin the Big Smile in the magnificent grounds of Raby Castle. We follow a broad path through the grassy landscape where Red and Fallow Deer herds live wild. We pass the impressively maintained medieval castle, built between 1367 and 1390 by John Neville, the 3rd Baron Neville de Raby.
We wander through Ladywood and then up towards Raby Home Farm and then Shotton enjoying the beautiful countryside home to some superb flora and fauna.
Eventually, we leave the Raby estate and find ourselves heading over Cockfield fell, common land pock marked with evidence of human habitation including flint arrowheads dating back to 8000BC.
We skirt around Cockfield itself and back through the estate to finish back at Raby Castle in a wonderful start to the Big Smile Walks.
Distance: 20 km ( 12.47 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆
Sponsored By: The Ramside Hall Hotel
22. The Roam around Reeth
Date: 20/07/2021
Meeting Point: Swaledale Museum, The Green, Reeth, Richmond, DL11 6TX
We head out of Reeth following Arkle Beck south, before crossing it and picking up a path that leads us upstream. After leaving the riverside path, we climb up to the high point of our walk: Hurst at 460 metres. From there, we drop back down towards the beck, passing Stormthwaite Hall, and the delightfully named hamlet of Booze (no, we won’t be stopping off!)
We then swing around the valley and back down to Arkle Beck, recrossing it at Langthwaite. Heading up towards Cringely Hill and along the lower slopes of Calver Hill, we then drop back down to the River Swale. We follow the river before picking up a path back to the village.
Distance: 20.1 km (12.49 miles)
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆