Keld & Thwaite

Keld is a small, compact village, little more than a hamlet in an idyllic Upper Swaledale setting at the crossing point of the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast paths.

There are no less than four fine waterfalls within a short walk of the bus stop. Wain Wath and Catrake Force are up river from Keld. East Gill is on a side valley, and the almost hidden twin waterfalls of Kisdon Force are secreted within a thickly wooded, limestone gorge downstream.

There are few nicer places to start a walk than Keld. You can take the old Corpse Way (which once led to the nearest consecrated ground at Grinton), head over Kisdon Hill, along the Pennine Way to Thwaite, or you can choose from several paths through the magnificent Kisdon gorge. The Pennine Way offers two magnificent routes out of the village, northwards to Tan Hill (but no return transport) or southwards over Great Shunner Fell to Hawes.

The hamlet of Thwaite, one mile east of Keld is celebrated as the birthplace of the Kearton brothers - Richard (1862-1934) and Cherry (1871-1940) – both of them pioneering wildlife photographers.

Bus times can be checked on the Dalesbus website.

Local services: pubs, cafe, toilets, accommodation