The Old School cakery

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.