Muker Tea Shop

Five and a half miles and about two and three quarter hours down the Swale from Muker, over the swaying footbridge at Ramps Holme and along the riverside to the single high arch of Ivelet Bridge, returning on the walled track along the lower slope of Muker Side; the riverside is flat and easy, the return track stony. Start at the Muker village car park behind the Farmers Arms, which is small and fills by mid-morning in summer. The Swale gives good drinking the whole way and there is a broad shingle bank near Ivelet where a dog can swim, though the pool under the bridge itself is deep and the current pulls, and meadows and pasture are grazed throughout so the lead stays on; the walls between Muker and Ramps Holme are crossed by the same brutally narrow squeeze stiles as the Thwaite path, and a big dog will need lifting through several of them.

Six and a quarter miles and around three and a half hours: flagged meadow paths out of Muker, a riverside track up the Swale past Crackpot Hall and Swinner Gill, then the Pennine Way back over the flank of Kisdon Hill. Park in the village car park behind the Farmers Arms; there is no other parking in Muker and the lane in is single track. The famous hay meadows are reached through a series of very narrow stone squeeze stiles that a broad-chested Labrador or a bull breed simply will not fit through, so this is a walk for slim or liftable dogs; sheep graze the whole route, so keep dogs on the lead throughout and take care above the drops at Kisdon Force.

Three miles and about an hour and three quarters linking the two prettiest villages in Swaledale, out on the field path under the flank of Kisdon to Thwaite and back on a stretch of the Pennine Way with the dale opening out below; short, but with one steady pull and a stone-flagged path that is greasy when wet. Start from the pay-and-display car park behind the Farmers Arms in Muker, the only parking in the village, and note the lane in is single track with few passing places. Straw Beck gives a drink at both ends but sheep graze every field and the meadows are cut for hay in July, so keep the dog on the lead and on the flags; the reason to think hard before bringing a big dog is the stiles, because this route threads through a dozen of the narrowest stone squeeze stiles in Yorkshire and a Labrador or a bull breed will get wedged in them.