LIMESTONE COUNTRY - A Northern Coast to Coast Walk: From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay - page 155

right and shortly cross a stretch of limestone pavement. Continue to a
large marker pole on the site of a tumulus.
Descend now on a green path through more heather, aiming for the left-
hand corner of a plantation, and from it bear half-right, passing a derelict
sheepfold ('bield') and climbing gently to meet the course of a Roman road
at a waymark post. Here, bear right along a broad green track - the course
of the Roman road - and soon reach the straggly woodland at Potrigg and
the more dense plantation beyond. The moorland track is a delight to fol-
low and sweeps down to the edge of the hamlet of Oddendale (page 75).
On the way, it passes the Oddendale stone circle (page 75), though this is
off to the left and not identifiable from a distance, although worth a visit.
As the track meets the village road, bear left along it for a short distance,
and then leave it altogether by going left along a stony track that leads
to the access road into the Hardendale Quarry. Steps lead down to, and
up the other side from, the access, which needs to be crossed with care,
both to avoid vehicles and to minimise the glutinous impact of limestone
mud. Across the access, bear right to a step-stile from which you thread
limestone outcrops to reach a gate.
From the gate, descend on a broad green track and round the end of a
mainly grass-covered limestone lip. Then go forward to cross the narrow
road to Hardendale (John Mill, page 74) and walk up to a gate in a wall
corner near The Nab, an isolated farmhouse.
Bear half-right from the gate, following an indistinct and narrow path
as it descends through an area of granite boulders and hawthorn above
the M6 motorway. From below a wall corner, walk roughly parallel with
the motorway to reach a fence that then guides you to a footbridge. On
the other side, turn immediately right to a through-stile in a wall, from
which you strike across a wide pasture to another stile near a gate in a
wall corner. Now keep ahead to reach and walk beside a wall to a gate/
stile, beyond which a walled track leads you on and down to the west coast
main railway line. As you descend the track, so the distant view is of the
eastern fells of Lakeland, with High Street and the shapely peak of Kidsty
Pike (maybe on tomorrow's agenda) prominent in view.
Cross the railway line by a bridge and swing right into the edge of a small
housing estate. Go to the second turning on the left and follow this out to
the A6, opposite the Kings Arms Hotel. Now turn right and walk through
the village of Shap (page 72).