Arkengarthdale is the northernmost of the Yorkshire Dales joining Swaledale at Reeth. The Dale cuts through the eastern half of a major lead mining field and lead was extracted from the area for over a thousand years. Most of the mining structures have now disappeared leaving only the spoil heaps and the line of a 1100 metre long chimney from the site of the smelting mill. The 18th century CB Inn (named after the 16th century landowner, Charles Bathurst) is the starting point for a suggested anticlockwise, 13mile roam (with 2400ft of ascent), around the industrial lead mining history of both Arkengarthdale and Swaledale, the highlight of which is the remains of the Old Gang mine smelting mill. The route includes parts of both the Herriot Way and Coast to Coast. A visit to Great Pinseat triangulation point (1912ft) is an optional diversion, where you may well find fossilised evidence of the fact that 200,000,000 years ago it was the sea bed! The next high point is the summit of Calver Hill which offers wonderful views around Swaledale before a descent is made back to the hospitality of The CB Inn via Arkle Beck.
Route points. Start GR 000031 CB Inn Carpark – Arkle Beck to Whaw Bridge – Whaw Edge – then west to Little Punchard Head (taking the Trig. option on the way) – SSE to Level House Bridge – SE to Surrender Bridge – Cringley bottom – Calver Hill – West Raw Farm – Cross Arkle Beck – West to follow the beck to the Red Lion pub at Langthwaite and a ½ k road walk back to bus. (there will be a little bit of rough ground on the way at times).

A less strenuous 9 mile lofty walk (with 1902ft of ascent) along Fremington Edge to Reeth provides marvellous views of the sweeping dales. A return to Langthwaite is made via Calver Hill.
 

Lynn Ford, Anne Marie Forster, Graeme Page &  Kishor Raichura kindly transported Alan Bradbury, Evelyn Brown, Bernie Cowan, Martin Hedley, Josie McGinley, Malcolm McVey, Hedley Oliver, Alan Ross, Marcel Serafin, Marta Serafin, Roger Smith, Neil Waite & Ronnie Willison to Langthwaite where they met up with John Bell, Debbie Bell, Jean Walker, Margaret Andison & Edward Vose.