Rukin Wood, Keld, Coast to Coast
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A glimpse of the Swale through the bereft winter plumage of Rukin Wood
Rukin Wood, Keld, Swaledale, Coast to Coast
Between Keld and Stoney Hill near Crackpot Hall, the River Swale swirls through a deep gorge. On the north riverbank is West Wood and on the south riverbank, Rukin Wood. Rukin Wood is an ancient deciduous woodland with conifers growing higher up. Below the woodland around Birk Hill is Kisdon Force, a large waterfall with two large drops.
A riverside walk from Muker to Keld passes through the lower, less steep section of Rukin Wood. The Wood populates the Swale riverbank comprising the north west face of Kisdon Hill. Above the woodland there are views along the Swinner Gill valley, Buzzard Scar, Arngil Scar and the ruins of Crackpot Hall.
Rukin Wood Kisdon Side
Rukin Wood comes to a sudden end on its east border as it encounters the vertical limestone cliff face of Kisdon Side. The vertical cliffs are of Yoredale limestone and they attain their maximum Yoredale depth of 40m. Above Kisdon Side, Kisdon Hill can be followed by eye to its 499m summit. 100m east of the summit is a shake hole that has a vertical drop of 5m. The OS describes this as a pot hole. The west face of Kisdon Side has an SSSI designation.
Birk Hill
Birk Hill, as seen from Beldi Hill, is located on the west side of Rukin Wood. A subsidiary path leaves the Pennine Way footpath at the top of Birk Hill to provide access to the Swale's riverbank and Kisdon Force, which is positioned at the foot of Birk Hill. This path, however, is steep and perilous.
Kisdon Force Birk Hill
Kisdon Force has two drops, the westmost being visible from peering down through the pre-foliar winter trees of Birk Hill. There is a very steep path descending down Birk Hill, but certainly not for the faint hearted.
Yoredale Cliffs Rukin Wood
Looking across the Swale's gorge from Rukin Wood the huge Yoredale limestone cliffs rise sheer on the opposing valley side. Higher up is Beldi Hill. The Coast to Coast path passes above the limestone cliffs and below Beldi Hill, from Keld and heading towards Buzzard Scar.
Entering Rukin Wood
Entering Rukin Wood from the Muker side is quite exciting. The woodland could easily pass as Tolkein's "Olde Forest"; tree trunks are gnarled and twisted, and their branches reach out, low from the ground. Mosses cover the trees, it is dark inside, walls have crumbled to the ground and covered by more mosses; the trees are dense and impenetrable.
Rukin Wood Swaledale
Rukin Wood would be very difficult to walk through without the path. it is very dense and the earth is strewn with fallen walling, dead trees, mosses and lichens.
Birk Hill Junction Meets
Rukin Wood is egressed on Birk Hill. At the top of Birk Hill three junctions meet, leading respectively to Keld, to Thwaite along the Pennine Way and to Muker along the Swale via Rukin Wood. Another, smalller path a little further along the way to Keld leads steeply down Birk Hill to Kisdon Force.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
