The walk starts in the centre of Reeth, so park up and look for Hudson House. This former Barclays Bank has recently been successfully converted into a community facility so take a look inside for information on the area. From here follow the road to the left of Hudson House and pass Garden House through a narrow passage following a black and white sign 'To The River'. Turn left after the senior's bungalows and then right past the 'Doctors Surgery' and the playground. As you leave the village behind, along a narrow lane and immediately before a pair of field gates, take the rough path to your left sign posted 'Harkerside & Grinton'. Descend this path toward the river Swale and it's green flood plane. As you pass through a gate keep to your right and cross a small footbridge, take a minute to view the river as it  meanders and check out it's high banks, home to many Sand Martins that skim the river's surface for insects. Cross the meadows through two further wood gates and toward the swing bridge over the river. This impressive structure was rebuilt in 2002, the old footbridge erected in the 1920's was swept away in the floods of September 2000, probably a casualty of global warming and the extremes of weather being experienced in recent years. After trout spotting in this wide brackish water leave the river behind you and follow the finger post sign to Harkerside. Cross a makeshift bridge over the dyke and ascend the field to a small squeeze stile in the corner.

Your route climbs diagonally across further stone walled fields, through a stile and a steel gate in the direction of Harkerside Place Farm. As you approach the farm through a gate, immediately before the fold yard and barns, the track swings left and climbs toward the road. Turn right in a westerly direction along this very quiet road for approximately half a mile. Before doing so you may want to explore the site of Maiden Castle Fort on the fell side just beyond the farm. On reaching the sign post for 'Castle Bolton via Whitaside', leave the tarmac behind you and join a wide stone bridleway used by keepers and farmers to access this wild heather covered moor. Continue along your route as it climbs steeply toward High Harker Hill the highest point of your walk. At a junction, disregard the track to a wood shooting hut on your right, follow the track round to your left as it climbs and then begins to level out into a wide expanse of moor. This is an area of former lead mine workings, now barely visible. As you continue your walk in an Easterly direction you will have spied a lonely wood finger post perched on top of a mound. This is a good point to take a break because 30 metres to your right away from the path is a small tarn, an ideal spot for lunch and to sample the rewards of these surroundings after your long ascent.

From here your route continues Easterly until you reach Long Scar, follow the track as it drops away to a junction. At this point, leave the stone track and take the grass path in front of you through damp ground and sedge grasses continuing your descent into Grovebeck Gill. Cross the beck, through a wood gate and if you wish, take a detour to the preserved ruins of Grinton Smelt Mill. In a short distance a faint path to your right takes you in it's direction, your route from the Mill is joined at the top of the Mill flue, first a bridleway and then a footpath that takes you East, behind the Youth Hostel to rejoin the road at Grinton. (It is my intention to include this area in a future featured walk). Saving this distraction for a future walk continue on your way until you join the road to Redmire. Turn left and walk down the wide grass verge beside the road and to the junction with the Leyburn road to cross a cattle grid and continue your descent into Grinton village. If you're distracted by the Bridge Inn, having visited the bar, cross the river bridge by the left footpath and you will see a small gap in the wall. Take the stone steps into the field and follow the way markers through a kissing gate to join the banks of Arkle Beck, before rejoining the road to cross the river once more. Then along this road that leads you back to Reeth village green and the start of your walk.