SWALE. 51 



is a Roman or British camp, less frequently examined than the 

 newly established ironstone mines, which are rapidly entering 

 the heart of the hill. 



At Stanwick, a few miles from Croft Bridge, the ancient 

 mounds which extend from the Swale to the Tees may be seen 

 to great advantage (see a subsequent part of the work). 



Stations for exploring Teesdale : High Force Inn ; Middle- 

 ton ; Barnard Castle ; Greta Bridge ; Pierse Bridge ; Croft 

 Bridge ; Middleton One Row. 



THE SWALE*. 



SWALEDALE originates in many branching hollows, which 

 undulate the eastward slope of the high crescent of moorland 

 sweeping from Water Crag by Nine Standards, Fell End, High 

 Seat, Lady's Pillar, and Shunnor Fell. The rivulets (called gills) 

 which run in these branches have very elevated summits, and no 

 deep glens connect them with branches of the nearest rivers. 

 Swaledale, thus shut in, and surrounded by a high and dreary 

 expanse of moorlands, is less picturesque in all its upper part 

 than Teesdale and Wensleydale, and is accordingly little visited 

 and little known. I have found, nevertheless, great pleasure in 

 crossing its wide and houseless heath, and following its solitary 

 waters, deeply tinged with extract of peat. The fine mountain 

 walk from Muker to Kirkby Stephen, which follows the main 

 stream of the Swale by Hollow Mill Cross (1700 feet above the 

 sea), is rarely trodden by tourists. 



Muker, though a very small place, and included in the large 

 parish of Grinton, calls itself somewhat boldly a market-town. 

 Though uninteresting in itself, and without a proper inn, I found 

 it a convenient station for geological exploration. Keasdon, a 

 magnificent mound of limestone with capping of gritstone, is in 

 sight, and near it the Swale makes two cascades, the value of 

 which depends on the weather. The valley of the Swale seems 

 * Swala = gentle (Teut.). 



E2 



