Calver Hill facts for kids

Calver Hill seen from the east, from Fremington Edge. The Arkle Beck flows towards Reeth to join the River Swale.

Calver Hill seen from the south, across Swaledale. Healaugh is to the right, with Fremington Edge beyond.

Calver Hill is a special hill, called a "fell," located in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park in North Yorkshire, England. It's made of limestone, a type of rock. This hill stands tall where two valleys, Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, meet.

The village of Reeth is nestled on the lower slopes of Calver Hill. The hill reaches a height of 487 metres (about 1,599 feet). It's a very noticeable landmark in the middle of Swaledale. Much of the water from the hill flows north and east into the Arkle Beck. This beck eventually joins the River Swale near Reeth.

Calver Hill's Mining History

Calver Hill has a fascinating past linked to mining. If you look closely, you can still see many signs of its industrial history. For example, there's a big, unused quarry about 500 metres north-west of the top of the hill.

There are also old piles of waste, holes, and shafts from former lead mines. Lead mining was very important here in the 1800s. The mines around Calver Hill were some of the busiest in Yorkshire!

What is a Bole Hill?

Calver Hill was once known as a "Bole hill." This was a special place where lead from the mines was smelted. Smelting means melting the metal out of the rock. They used open-air furnaces that relied on the wind to make the fire hotter. You can still find burnt stones and scattered pieces of slag (waste material) where these furnaces once stood.

Exploring Calver Hill

Calver Hill is a great place for a walk! You can start your climb from the village of Reeth. Another way to reach the top is from Langthwaite or Arkle Town in Arkengarthdale.

Walks from Reeth

If you start from Reeth, you can take Skelgate Lane. This path goes through farmland and then leads you onto the open hill at about 300 metres high. From there, you follow the western ridge all the way to the summit.

Walks from Arkengarthdale

From Arkengarthdale, you can use the bridleway that connects Arkle Town to Healaugh. This path will take you to the western ridge at about 420 metres high. From that point, it's an easy walk to reach the very top of Calver Hill.