Coast to Coast: Keld to Reeth

This was an 11+ mile walk from Keld to Reeth in the Swaledale area.

We didn’t stay here, but it looks like a good place to rest yours.

An old tractor. Wouldn’t start. Hiking down to an old abandoned lead mining works. The miners would dam up the Swale river at the top and then release the water all at once. Called hushing, the river would wash away all the top soil revealing the presence or absence of minerals. You can click on the photo for a nice description of the history of the Swaledale area.
A closer look at the mining operation.

Katharine heading back up the other side. Looking down at the smelt where the ore was made into lead soup for children or maybe not. Here’s what the hush would leave behind. Old lead gang smelting mill. See, I told you. An old building with a thatched roof. Entering Reeth.