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HEALAUGH

About a mile from Reeth on the road to Muker, is the straggling village of Healaugh, or Helah, formerly of importance as head of the manor which included Reeth, Muker, and Melbecks. John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, well known in history, had a mansion or fortress in the field still known as Hall Garth.

Maiden Castle (see Reeth) is easily reached from Healaugh, the lane at the E. end leading to stepping stones across the river, practically opposite the entrenchment.

About a half a mile to the W. of the village is Low Whita Bridge, giving access to the S. side of the Swale. The road to the L. leads to Grinton, and to the R. to Isles Bridge, skirting Crackpot to Gunnerside.

The lane to the N. at the W. end of the village leads to Park Hall, built in 1700 by Thomas Lord Wharton, an extensive land owner in the district. Further along the lane is the village of Kearton, from which district sprang the ancestors of the brothers Kearton, so well known for their camera studies of bird life. The track to the R., just before Park Hall is reached and along the R. hand side of the beck, leads to the disused Old Gang lead mines.

FEETHAM

From Healaugh the main road crosses Barney Beck and drops down to Feetham, where the Punch Bowl Inn is well known to tourists as a calling place. The church of Melbecks parish, which includes the hamlets of Healaugh, Kearton, Low Row, Feetham, Gunnerside, and several smaller places, is situated at Feetham. The church is a modern structure, erected in 1841 and restored in 1866. The vicarage, situated

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at the bottom of Crackpot Hill, on the S. side of the Swale, about a mile and half W. of the church, was for thirty years prior to 1912, when he retired from the vicariate, the home of the Rev. R. Taylor, the well-known author and antiquary.

The foot ford across the Swale was used by the Romans in their marches from the Harkerside encampment to Greta Bridge.

LOW ROW

Population - About 160.
Early Closing Day - Wednesday.
Places of Worship - Parish Church at Feetham, services, 10-30 a.m. and 6-30 p.m. ; Wesleyan Chapel, 2 p.m., 6-30 p.m.; Congregational, 2-0 p.m. and 6-30 p.m.
Literary Institute, Reading Room, and Library.
Post Office - Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Delivery of letters commences 8-40 a.m.; despatch, 3-15 p.m. No delivery or collection on Sundays. Telegrams; Telephone.
Railway Station - Richmond (13 miles).
Distances - Reeth, 3 miles; Askrigg, 6 ; Muker, 6; Gunnerside, 3.

Almost adjoining Feetham is Low Row, a village which, like its neighbour, is becoming increasingly attractive to summer visitors for its easy access to the moors. From the long hillside green which stretches the full length of the two places, typical views of Swaledale are obtained. Full of charm is the outlook over Crackpot Gill and up towards Summer Lodge.

The Congregational Chapel at Low Row was founded in 1690 by Philip Lord Wharton. This church was licensed under the Five Mile Act - it was five miles from Grinton and Muker churches - and for many years was the only Nonconformist place of worship in the dale. The present Congregational Chapel was built in 1809. It was this same Lord Wharton who gave an estate in trust for the purchase of 1,050 Bibles yearly, and these are known to this day as the "Wharton Bibles."

A short distance W. of Low Row, a lane to the L. crosses the Swale by Isles Bridge. A turn to the R. and then L. alongside the gill, brings the visitor to the small hamlet of Crackpot. The gill (the wooded banks of which are rich in fern and lichen and wild flowers) rises on the moor above Summer Lodge, near Summer Lodge Tarn. Near the source of Crackpot Gill (about a mile from the village) is a curious cavern known as Fairy Hole. The entrance is very narrow, but a spacious

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chamber opens out inside. At the further end of the cavern a stream of water issues from the rock, and falls into a pool or well below. The gill forms a pretty waterfall near to the highway, not far from Feetham vicarage.

In the neighbourhood of Crackpot, tradition asserts that a fight took place between some Scots and Dalesmen. At any rate, in 1847, seven human skeletons were unearthed near Melbecks vicarage, and from a buckle of a sword belt and other articles found near, it is assumed that they were followers of the Young

The rough road beyond Summer Lodge continues over Askrigg moor, - where the becks take a southerly direction into Wensleydale - to Askrigg. Above Askrigg Town Head the road joins another one crossing the same wild moorland track by High and Low Oxnop to Muker. The former road is known as the Street, indicative of a Roman road which crosses the moor. It was while crossing the moor into Wensleydale that John Wesley, after one of his visits to the district, had his horse bogged, as recorded in his journal.

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Distance to Crackpot: 1 mile; to Summer Lodge: 2 miles; to Summer Lodge Tarn: 3 miles; to Askrigg: 5 miles.

The Old Gang Smelting Mill and the Old Gang Lead Mines can be reached by footpaths over the moor to the N. of Low Row. Distance: to the mill, 1¼ miles; to the mines, 2½ miles.

Population - About 300.
Early Closing Day - Wednesday.
Places of Worship - Mission Church in connection with Melbecks Parish Church, service, 2 p.m.; Wesleyan Chapel, 2 p.m., 6-30 p.m.
Literary Institute, Reading Room, and Library.
Post Office - Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays; 8-30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sundays. Delivery of letters commences 9 a.m.; despatch, 3 p.m. Money Orders; Telegrams; Telephone.
Railway Station - Richmond (16 miles).
Distances - Askrigg station, 5½ miles (rough road); Muker, 2¾; Reeth, 6.

Gunnerside is a typical mountain village, and is the largest in the dale with the exception of Reeth and Grinton. The valley contracts here, and the hills are wilder and more precipitous than near the villages in the lower part of the dale. The village is astride Gunnerside Gill, which rushes down a deep gorge from its source four miles up the hills between Rogan's Seat and Water Crag. The beck is margined by limestone scars and joins the Swale by Gunnerside Bridge, S. of the village. Here, in times of flood, the river has tremendous power, and in January, 1890, the bridge was washed away. The present substantial structure of two arches replaced the one destroyed. The walks round the village include some of the wildest scenery to he found in Swaledale.

First in importance should be placed a walk up the deep wooded gorge through which flows Gunnerside Beck. The footpath on the L., or W. side, of the beck should be taken from the village, and the walk may he continued to the summit of Rogan's Seat, 2,204 ft. high, or by turning L. and veering S. the return journey may be made via Ivelet on the N. bank of the Swale. The ascent of Rogan's Seat means a walk of eight or nine miles, and the shorter journey by Ivelet is about five miles.

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A more strenuous walk is to include the ascent of Water Crag (2,188 ft.) as well as that of Rogan's Seat. The summits of the two mountains are barely a mile apart. The space between is Wham, or Swamp, Bottom. Water Crag is well named, for it possesses more water courses than any other hill in the locality, its northern slopes providing gathering grounds for numerous streams which flow into the Arkle Beck. From Water Crag there is an extensive view of Upper Arkengarthdale, and across Bowes Moor and Stainmoor.

Tanhill Inn is a good two miles N.W. of Water Crag. It is the highest inn in England, being 1,727 ft. above sea level. The Cat and Fiddle, on Axe

Ivelet Beck is a mile W. of Gunnerside. Cross the common, passing Dyke Head (where was born the poet Close). Ivelet Falls are close to the village, and about half a mile higher up the beck are the charming Yew Scar Falls, where the water falls over a limestone precipice and in three leaps descends 100 ft. Return by the field path nearer the Swale, making a total distance of three miles.

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A variation of this walk is to cross Ivelet Beck and proceed along the road which crosses the Swale by a high saddle bridge - a remarkable structure - near the confluence of Oxnop Gill, returning by the main road through Satron and over Gunnerside Bridge. Distance: about 3½ miles.

A longer and more picturesquely varied walk is by the field path from Gunnerside before mentioned to Ivelet Beck, cross the beck into a rough road, turn R. over a stile, and a field path leads to Muker. Cross the bridge over the Swale at Muker and keep to the path of the S. side of the river till Keld is reached. Near Keld are Kisdon Force and Catrake Force. From Muker there is a path on the N. side of the river, but as a crossing has to be made further N., this route is only possible when the water is low.

To Crackpot. - Cross Gunnerside Bridge and turn L. up the hill. Keep on the road to the R. At Crackpot turn L. and return by the road near the S. bank of the Swale. Distance: about 3 miles. This walk may be extended to Summer Lodge.

MUKER

Population - 519.
Market Town - Hawes (7 miles) Wednesday.
Early Closing Day - Thursday.
Garages - Two.
Banks - One.
Places of Worship - Church of England, services, 10-45 a.m., 2-15 p.m.; Wesleyan Chapel, 2 p.m., 6-30 p.m. (7 p.m. in summer).
Literary Institute, Library, Reading Room, and Billiard Room.
Post Office - Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays: 8-30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sundays. Delivery of letters commences 9-25 a.m.; dispatch, 2-50 p.m.
Money Orders; Telegrams; Telephone.
Railway Stations - Askrigg (5 miles); Hawes (7 miles); Richmond (19 miles).
Distances - Askrigg 5 miles; Hawes (7 miles), Richmond (19 miles); Richmond station is most convenient and accessible, the roads to Askrigg and Hawes being very rough and little used.

At Muker the Swale turns N. through a picturesque valley. Muker Beck runs alongside the village and joins the main stream near the highway. In former times Muker belonged to the parish of Grinton, and the dead from all the upper part of Swaledale had to be conveyed to and buried at the mother Church. The "Corpse Way" on the hill side still exists. It passed over the summit of Mount Kisdon, dropped down its eastern side, crossed the Swale about half a mile N. of Muker, continued along the moorland terrace to the

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N. of the river, by Gunnerside, to Barf End, Low Row, Feetham, to Reeth, and down to Grinton. The church of St. Mary at Muker was built and dedicated in 1580, and was restored in 1898.

Mr. R. Kearton, whose studies of birds and birds' nests are so well-known, was formerly an inhabitant of Muker

The walk to Keld by the field path near the Swale is the most interesting in the district. It passes on the E. and N. sides of Kisdon (1,636 ft.), through

Swinnergill Kirk. - Cross the Swale by the footbridge some half mile above the village, and then proceed along the E. bank till Swinnergill Beck is reached. A short distance up the stream, at the foot of the cascade, is the cavern known as Swinnergill Kirk. The cave is from 50 to 60 yds. long. Its entrance is narrow but the interior is spacious. It was used as a secret place of worship during the times of religous persecution. It has also done service as a place of refuge during the wars between the Celts, Saxons and Normans. Distnce from Muker: 2½ miles.

To Thwaite. - This hamlet is two miles from Muker, on the main road. About midway between the two

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places, on the L. of the highway, is a pretty waterfall formed by Cliff Beck, which has its source at the Buttertubs. The village of Thwaite is situated

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can be accomplished in about 1½ hours, and the view of the Westmorland and Cumberland hills to be obtained from the summit - "a vast hill country, a wilderness of blue ridges and of shadowy summits" - is well worth the climb. Ingleborough and Great Whernside are seen overtopping the intervening hills, and there is almost a bird's eye view of the whole valley of the Swale from Muker to Marske. The path from Thwaite is by the beck side past Moor Close Farm, then strike westwards straight for the cairn.

Lovely Seat (2,213 ft.), S.E. of Shunner Fell, on the E. side of the Buttertubs, is about two miles from Thwaite.

The Buttertubs are 5 or 6 curious holes from 50 to 100 ft. deep, by the highway which forms the western-most communication between Swaledale and Wensleydale, and are about two miles from Thwaite and three from Muker. "Cool, dark and cavernous," says Mr. Arthur H. Norway in "Highways and Byways in Yorkshire," " they are deep, black pits, walled by very strangely splintered limestone, standing now in crumpled pillars towering above the sheer depth, now breaking into fantastic shapes of every kind, with here and there an alder or a mountain ash growing out of a crevice, or some sweet white flower straying fearlessly down into the pits. Into the largest of the Buttertubs there trickles down a little stream, sobbing quietly enough as it oozes out of the long grass and struggles through the boggy patch between the slope and the descent, but plunging down the dark chasm with a kind of startled cry which sounds eerie in the great silence of the fells, and so drops out of sight among the shining river wort, and falls in spray into the bowels of the earth."