Kirkby Stephen – Richmond – The Yorkshire Dales
After Kirkby Stephen the route climbs up to Nine Standards, moorland, high above the Eden valley, then onwards into Swaledale, one of the longest and quietest areas of the Yorkshire Dales. The route crosses open moorland above the steep sided valley, punctuated by limestone dry stone walls and field barns. Then between the upland sections the route drops into the valley to follow delightful stretches of riverside path and passes through the charming farming villages of Keld and Reeth.

Closer to Richmond, the moorlands give way to woodlands. Richmond is a bustling market town and is the largest settlement on the route, worthy of a day off to explore, with its cobbled market place, overlooked by the castle originally built in the 11th Century.

Blakey to Robin Hoods Bay – Country Villages & the North Sea
With the upland part of the route completed the route descends to the River Esk at Glaisdale, which it follows downstream to Egton Bridge and Grosmont, thought by many to be the prettiest villages on the route. Littlebeck, and its accompanying woodland, provide a final taste of picture postcard countryside before more agricultural land leads to the sea cliffs, which are followed south to Robin Hoods Bay, a fishing village famed for its narrow, steep streets, and characteristic roofscapes.