Arkle - Swale watershed

This entire area is criss-crossed with bridleways, many of which are skiable, though a few can be rocky, and there are some steep descents to avoid, most particularly around Gunnerside Gill. As usual, routes with the Tan Hill Inn as destination feature on the list.

In heavy snow, the small roads between Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, and over towards the Stang Forest are the last to be ploughed, and in these conditions can be excellent skiing themselves.
Skiing down the road to Surrender bridge

Ascending onto Melbecks moor

A nice circuit from the Punchbowl Inn at Low Row climbs Peatgate (this is steep, but provides the height that makes the rest of the circuit pretty easy going), then drops down to Surrender Bridge (photo above). A track leads up the side of the beck, which can be crossed via either of two bridges to ascend onto Melbecks Moor. This can be crossed (photo), to ski on tracks overlooking Gunnerside and back via Blades, or a more direct route can be taken over the moor directly towards Swaledale. Hollows on the slopes south and southwest of Brownsey Moor can hold quite deep drifts on just the right sort of gradients for telemark practice - a pleasant afternoon can be spent on a sunny frosty day skiing in just this small area before dropping down via Blades or Smarber.

Further west, Rogan's Seat can be approached from the Ivelet back road on the track west of Gunnerside Gill, varying the return by crossing above Jingle Pot edge or down Gunnerside Pasture.

West again, Stonesdale Moor and Birkdale Common offer similar terrain, with Nine Standards Rigg a prime target, perhaps from the top of the B6270 well east of its summit, at 455m, or by the bridleway from its summit at 518m (steeper).

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