Where are the best places to have a Picnic in Swaledale?

There are loads of course, pretty much any walking path you can find somewhere with a view but here are some ideas for picnic locations that are reasonably close to Swale View.

I am a big fan of water, ideal for keeping the dog cool and hydrated if I am not carrying water for either of us. Also, who doesn’t like the sound of running water? So here we go, a few places I have found that you may like and that perhaps other people won’t know too much about to give you a bit or peace and quiet.

You may need to take a picnic set with you rather than carrying lots of bits and bobs and the VonShef 4 person picnic set comes highly recommneded.

Arkle Beck, the main picture is Skye having a run around there last September. Link to Google Maps where you go off the main road is here. But basically from Reeth take the Arkengarthdale road out of the village towards Langthwaite, past the garage, in Reeth. Over the cattle grid, park up where you can and talk the track to the right, finger post points to a five bar gate, go through that. Follow the track and in less than 10 minutes you are at the bridge. Plenty of places to spread out right down by the river and bridge.

And easy one is to check out the area by Isles Bridge on our dog walks page ‘Isles bridge to Gunnerside‘ tells you how to get there. Only 10 minutes from Swale View and is a really nice spot. Take the right stile down some steps at Isles Bridge, walk along across the stepping stones if needed and there is a large grassed area and ‘beach‘ ahead of you. The water can be deep enough for a swim in some places. Depends on the amount of rain that has fallen. And the whole area can be cut off if it’s rained a lot! Handy though as so close to the house. Can be popular, ie couple of other people there but there is plenty of room.

Next up is one in Gunnerside Gill which is easily accessed from Gunnerside, just by the bridge in the village, the track is opposite the Kings Head pub here. Just follow the track, only one way to go really, up around the house, across a field, into and through the woods, Gunnerside Beck river on your left. Eventually you pop out into the flatter valley. And it’s a nice spot for a picnic. Plenty of walks you can do as well. If possible you can cross the river and hop up to the track above on the other side of the river. This is also a good walk that circulates back round to Gunnerside but is about 6 or 7 miles from memory!

Ivelet has two bridges which both offer opportunities for parking the car up and taking a spot by the river. Easily accessed from Gunnerside, take the road from the car park in Gunnerside between the cottages. Not the one to Muker and just follow it. On the map here you will see where the road crosses a stream feeding into the Swale. This has a nice area to the right of the bridge to sit down and have a snack. If you carry on you come across the really spectacular Ivelet bridge, image below, which crosses the river Swale. There is parking before and over the bridge and you can walk along the river and pick a spot to have your picnic. It’s a really nice drive across the bridges though it can be only one way traffic for a while.

So there you are, a few ideas for picnics, all close by to Swale View. Gives you something to aim for but of course there are so many places where you can just pull over in the car or when you are out walking and take in the views and have some food.