OF THE DISTRICT. 
157 
The bed of the valley slopes rapidly in the upper part above Muter, 
and then with much uniformity declines to the vale of York. Swaledale 
head (Hollow Mill Cross) 1700 feet. Maker 850 feet, Marsk bridge 
545 feet, Richmond (rocks below the castle) 300 feet. The width 
of the valley varies chiefly in relation to the nature of the rocks. Its 
principal contractions are above Muker and above and below Richmond. 
Wensleydale . — This magnificent valley opens at its head into the 
vale of Eden, Garsdale, Dentdale, and Ribblesdale, by passes of moderate 
elevation all under 1500 feet. At the point of union of Garsdale, Wen- 
sleydale, and Edendale, the eye looks northward along the deep hollow 
of Mallerstang, westward down Garsdale, and eastward through the 
whole length of AVenslevdale. Where Dentdale, Ribblesdale, and Wid- 
dale meet, one deep valley stretches AY. N. W., another flows north- 
east, a third to the south, a fourth, the Greta, runs south-west. Wens- 
leydale is more intimately connected with Garsdale, in direction at 
least, than with any other of the valleys into which it opens ; in a 
certain sense we may consider Garsdale and Wensleydale as one long 
east and west valley; but Garsdale is a narrow glen compared to the 
broad, fertile, and noble valley of the Yore. In its eastward course 
the Yore receives on its right bank Widdale beck, flowing north-east, 
Gale beck flowing N. by E., the water of Radleside dale, whose course 
is north-east, Bishopdale also north-east, Walden dale more nearly north, 
and Coverdale E. N. E. The streams which enter on the left bank 
are of less importance. In lower ground where it runs south-east, the 
Yore is augmented by the waters of Colsterdale flowing east. 
The general tendency to north-easterly directions, in all the affuents 
on the south side of W ensleydale, is extremely remarkable, and cer- 
tainly is dependent on the general dip of the strata, there almost in- 
variably to the north-east. This same dip prevails in the upper end 
of Nidderdale and Colsterdale, where the direction of the drainage is 
nearly parallel. We have already shewn the apparent dependence of 
the south-eastward turn of the Yore upon the continuation of the 
current from Arkendale. 
