Walks and trails

Local volunteers have created a number of walking books to help you explore the area, and keep as a souvenir of your visit to the town. They are available from various outlets round the town, including the Information Centre.

• The Little but Wondrous Guide to Richmond
• Richmond Walks
• Pootling Around Richmond and Swaledale
  Buy a walking booklet bundle

National publisher, Treasure Trails, offers two family-friendly treasure hunt trails around Richmond..

Buy your Treasure Trail

Regular guided walks take place throughout the year. Various donations and charges will apply.

Richmond Town Walks

Explore the colourful history of Richmond and hear some of its fascinating stories in this volunteer-led walk, lasting between an hour and 90 minutes. They remain on level ground - as far as is possible in Richmond! Walks take place on Wednesdays and Fridays and must be pre-booked. Other days may be available on request.

More information: Dorothy Storry 07427 981840 or email: dorothystorry@sky.com

Richmond Wanders

These hour-long walks are a stunning way to find out more about the town - planes, prisoners, boats, boots, bridges, nurses, Normans, Belgians, castles and trains all feature!

Starting from The Green Howards Museum, you will take a walk round Richmond with your knowledgeable guide, enjoying the scenery but also spotting the clues to its military past.

Check Wander details here.

Ghost Walks

Local guide Rhoda Fraser brings to life local stories, traditions and legends, including the Drummer Boy and Potter Thompson.

Lasting for just over an hour, the walks are suitable for all ages and take place on Fridays and Saturdays in August. Meet at the Turf Hotel or Friary Gardens at 6.30pm. Other times and dates can be arranged by appointment.

More information: Rhoda Fraser 01748 818156 or 07775 618472.

There are a number of local walking groups that meet regularly and welcome new members or visitors to the town.  

Check out Richmondshire Ramblers, Swaledale Outdoor Club and Walking for Heath in our Community Groups listings to get involved.

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 the Richmond.

The Coast to Coast

Richmond is the largest town on Alfred Wainwright's world-famous Coast to Coast route from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay. 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 Ministry of Defence (MOD) has opened up, for more general public access, a section of their training area to create the Downholme permissive footpath, which covers approximately 3.6 miles across various unsurfaced terrain within one of the largest MoD training areas in the North East of England.

Lying within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the route now forms part of the Swale Way long distance footpath and offers wonderful previously unseen views over the Lower Swaledale Valley.

For more gentle walks, Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve is a rich mosaic of habitats situated within Catterick Garrison.