wash away topsoil to expose the ore veins. It was part of the Votadini Celtic kingdom of Catraeth, but in the late 6th century the river valley was invaded by Angles who took the settlement at Catraeth (now Catterick). Warriors from the Celtic Gododdin kingdom to the north attempted to dislodge them, but failed to do so at the Battle of Catraeth. The Angles then established themselves at Reeth, Stainton, Grinton Bridge and Fremington. By the mid-9th century the area had been invaded by Norsemen who settled first the lower and then the upper valley. After the Norman invasion, the lands of the valley were given to Alan the Red of Brittany who built the castle at Richmond between 1071 and 1091. It was built on a bluff overlooking the River Swale. In the 7th century, St Paulinus supposedly immersed thousands of people in a baptismal rite at Brompton-on-Swale and further downstream at Brafferton. Because so many had been baptised in this way, 19th-century writers have labelled the Swale as England's River Jordan. Mass baptisms are still carried out in the river around the Catterick Bridge area. Economy Over the centuries, lead mining and cattle farming have been the main industries, but competition from the rest of the world saw them decline by the end of the 19th century. Some crop farming also took place, most notably during the warm periods of the 13th century. Tourism now plays a major role in the economy of the river valley. The Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way follows the valley between Fremington and Gunnerside. The Coast to Coast Walk passes through Richmond to Reeth and is crossed at Keld by the Pennine Way, which goes through the upper valley from Buttertubs Pass to Muker. Gallery Lists Settlements Keld Muker Gunnerside Low Row Reeth Grinton Richmond Brompton-on-Swale Catterick Bridge Catterick Great Langton Little Fencote Morton-on-Swale Gatenby Maunby Pickhill Skipton-on-Swale Catton Baldersby St James Topcliffe Cundall Fawdington Brafferton Helperby Myton-on-Swale Tributaries Holme Ash Gill Little Ash Gill Great Ash Gill Whitsunudale Beck Blackburn Beck Stonesdale Beck Oldfield Gutter Swinner Gill West Arn Gill Straw Beck Routin Gill Oxnop Gill Shore Gill Gunnerside Gill Haverdale Beck Mirk Gill Birks Gill Scabba Wath Barney Beck Arkle Beck Cogden Beck Hags Gill Gill Beck Gill Beck Oxque Beck Marske Beck Clapgate Beck Sand Beck Colburn Beck Skeeby Beck Brough Beck Fiddale Beck Kiplin Beck The Stell Mill Beck Bedale