Walks, trails and cycle rides

From the dozens of walking books and guidebooks on Richmond and Swaledale, we recommend those below. They are written by local authors, are inexpensive, are available from outlets around Richmond, including Richmond Information Centre in the Market Hall, and can also be ordered online using the button below.

• Richmond Walks: a colourfully illustrated guide to four circular walks, in or starting from Richmond, including the Town Trail and the Easby Loop
• Pootling Round Richmond and Swaledale: eight circular walks, four starting from Richmond, and four in the lovely countryside of Lower Swaledale
• The Little but Wondrous Guide to Richmond: a hilarious collection of fascinating facts about our ancient town. Packed with lively colour illustrations and wondrous stories, some of them true, this little book is a great way to remember a visit to Richmond
• Swaledale: An Insider's Guide. Joe Willis's guide to Swaledale really gets behind the scenes. Meet the shepherds and farmers, the artists and gardeners, the High Court Judge and the boot-maker, the innkeepers, cave rescuers, singers and brass band players who are just some of the fascinating people who live and work in these wild northern Dales

Guided walks take place throughout the year.

Guided Town Walks

Explore the colourful stories of the town's Historic Centre with a knowledgeable Richmond Information Centre volunteer. Walks take place at 11:00 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, year-round, and last about 75 minutes. They are free, and donations are welcome. You can find booking details and other information at [link to new Walks page].

Richmond Wanders

These occasional walks, led by expert guides, are a fabulous way to discover the military past of this town, from the Roman and Norman periods to the present day. Wanders start from the Green Howards Museum and last about an hour. They are suitable for all ages, although, as the Museum's website coyly puts it, 'you can’t go very far in Richmond without encountering a hill. To check upcoming Wanders, booking details and prices, visit www.greenhowards.org.uk.

The Richmond Walking and Book Festival, held during the last week of September each year, combines a week-long walking festival in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with a series of literary events, including talks by well-known authors and social events.

The walking programme comprises three main walks each day of various lengths and grades, mainly in the Swaledale and Wensleydale areas, plus town walks around Richmond's Historic Centre.

Coast to Coast Path

The Coast to Coast Path, often abbreviated to C2C, is a roughly 190‑mile (300 km) walk across northern England, from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea. Devised by Alfred Wainwright, it threads through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors, mixing rugged fells, limestone dales, and heather moorland with historic villages. Designated a National Trail in 2022, the C2C is being upgraded, with full National Trail status launching in 2026. Walkers typically complete it in 12–16 days, navigating varied terrain, weather, and logistics, rewarded by sweeping landscapes and a ceremonial dip in the sea at either end.

Richmond is the largest town on the route. It is also roughly midway, making it a popular stopping-off point for a day or two's rest, to recharge the batteries before the second half of the route.

The Swale Way

Growing in popularity is the Swale Way, which also passes through Richmond. This follows the full length of the River Swale from its confluence with the Ure at Boroughbridge to its origin high in the hills above Reeth. The route continues to Kirkby Stephen giving the option of returning by the Yoredale Way along the course of the Ure.

The Yorkshire Dales have long been a destination for cyclists of all kinds, with bicycle races in Richmond documented as far back as 1869! More recently, the Tour de France held its 2014 'Grand Départ' in the Dales, with the peloton hurtling down the treacherous 'Côte de Buttertubs', and through the tiny villages of Swaledale.

It's not all about sport, though, or about riding on tarmac. Miles and miles of quiet lanes are waiting to be explored, and exhilarating moorland tracks, while the recently-established Swale Trail follows the valley floor between Reeth and Keld, and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

The Dales Bike Centre in Grinton offers advice on routes, as well bike hire (and e-bike hire, too), and is hugely popular with cyclists in urgent need of cake. Richmond Information Centre has a wide range of local cycle-maps, as well as guides to off-road trails and long-distance routes.