Gunnerside

The name of the village derives from an Old Norse personal name Gunnar and sætr meaning hill or pasture.

Gunnerside Ghyll (or Gunnerside Gill), a smaller valley running northwards, at right angles to the Swale valley (Swaledale), was the site of a major lead mining industry in Swaledale from the 17th century to the late 19th century. The beck that runs through the narrow valley, also called Gunnerside Gill, or Gunnerside Beck, rises between Rogan's Seat and Water Crag, and runs for 5 miles (8 km), emptying into the River Swale at the site of Gunnerside New Bridge. The bridge carries the B6270 over the River Swale south of the village; it was rebuilt several times during the 19th century due to flooding. The current structure dates from around 1892 and is Grade II listed.

The Old Working Smithy & Museum was established in 1795.

Gunnerside is served by the Gunnerside Methodist Chapel, a part-time post office, a weekly market, a restaurant and some shops selling food items. The chapel was founded in 1789, but rebuilt in 1866. The structure is now Grade II listed. A private building to the north of the crossroads in the village was the site of a medieval corn mill, and in the early 20th century, a bus garage. At the foot of Gunnerside Ghyll is the King's Head, a public house.

The village primary school is one of two sites of the Reeth and Gunnerside Schools. At the last Ofsted inspection in 2023, the primary school was rated as "Good".

The area attracts many ramblers who use the foot tracks for exploring the area. Local employment centres on tourism, clockmaking, hill farming, wildlife management and construction, the latter concerned chiefly with the maintenance of traditional stone-built field walls, houses and field barns. The latter, also known as laithes, are typically referred to as "cow'uses" or cow houses in Swaledale.

• John Close, poet, was born in the village in 1816.