Keld Tourist Information

Keld is the first or last village in Swaledale,North Yorkshire depending on your approach and as a starting or finishing point on any trip is unsurpassed.

Sitting neatly off the main road the sandstone buildings reek of history and romance and one can't help but become enveloped in its magic.

The visitor is always made welcome with a café, campsite and small shop that provides the basic essentials. There is also a Youth Hostel for the multi day walker to rest if they don't want to use the campsite.

Views from the hills are sublime with Kisdon standing proud at 1640 ft, an island in the Dales as it is surrounded on all sides by water.

A short walk in any direction will lead the visitor to a number of beautiful waterfalls such as Currack force, East Gill, Catrake and Swinner Gill.

Old farm buildings dot the lush green fields and a short walk east brings one to the remains of Crackpot Hall, the former lodge for Lord Wharton's gamekeeper and the best view in the dales up Kisdon Gorge.

From this vantage point one can also see “Boggle House”, originally called Hartlakes it is said to be haunted and sits neatly by the side of the Swale.

The famous Tan Hill Inn can easily be reached by car or for the more adventurous a good walk. The refreshments though are always welcome.

Visitors may well be perplexed by the number of hikers that pass by but Keld is also part of The Coast To Coast walk.

Historically Keld can boast a fine array of old Lead mines, those at Swinner Gill being the best, set in a steep high valley are well worth a visit.

The Yorkshire dales has many, many gems, Keld is one of them.

Description by Peter Gaffney