Keld

Keld, Swaledale

Keld

Where is it – England, Yorkshire and the Humber

Who looks after it –  Local Authority 

What is it –  Free access, National Park, Village 

When is it from – All or N/A

Keld is a peaceful tiny Yorkshire Dales’ village sitting on a small hill above Swaledale. It is popular with walkers – partly because the Pennine Way and Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast path meet there. The name comes from the Old Scandinavian for ‘spring’, kelda. In 1301, it was known as Appeltrekelde – ‘the spring by the apple tree’. Somehow, Keld has a kind of medieval feel to it, though its buildings are generally not that old. It was once a centre for the lead mining industry, when it is said to have had a population of around 6,000 at its height in the 19th century, compared with about 100 now. The remains of lead mines – the Romans mined for lead in Swaledale – can be found on the fells. The village is also home to the Keld Resource Centre, a charity busy restoring buildings in the village and generally promoting the area. Nearby Kisdon Force is one of many local beauty spots and is sometimes used for wild swimming.

NB There is another Keld not far away in Cumbria.

 


Address

North Yorkshire DL11 6LJ 

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