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Where and what is Keld?
Keld is a tiny village at the head of Swaledale, in magnificent country high up in the Pennines. It is 25 miles west of Richmond and 10 miles south-east of Kirby Stephen, but the footpaths are more famous than the roads. Just outside the village the Pennine Way crosses the Coast to Coast path. These two routes bring many long distance walkers to Keld. Today the local economy depends on hill farming and tourism, but there is still plenty of evidence of the extensive lead-mining that employed a much larger population a century and more ago.
And what is the Keld Centre?
The Centre is in the heart of the village. It is a collection of buildings, comprising the old village school, the institute and the former manse. These buildings now provide a self-catering residential centre with beds for 30 people, mostly in bunks in small dormitories. There is a well-equipped kitchen, dining room and two other common rooms, as well as the usual shower and toilet facilities. Some of the sleeping accomodation and other facilities are deliberately provided at ground level so as to be accessible for people with physical disabilities. There is a rough garden behind the manse with a permanent barbecue site.
Centre users normally have access to the village hall which provides ample space for badminton, table-tennis and other run-about games. The chapel is also available for use when required.
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THE KELD CENTRE
