LIMESTONE COUNTRY - A Northern Coast to Coast Walk: From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay - page 62

SUNBIGGIN TARN
Sunbiggin Tarn, though undoubtedly a welcome oasis in these great limestone uplands,
is a particularly sensitive area. Often, the raucous clamour of breeding gulls will pin-
point the tarn's whereabouts sooner by sound than by sight. The area around the tarn
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Not always clear underfoot, the on-going path is an ancient highway -
now classified as a Byway Open to All Traffic (a BOAT). The path leads
down to a gate in a wall, near a large, walled enclosure, on the boundary
between Orton and Ravenstonedale parishes. Beyond the gate the ground
is rather boggy and churned up, but leads on to a lovely broad green track
across Ravenstonedale Moor. Although there is a discernible track across
the moor, this may not be best place to be in poor visibility for other than
competent navigators.
The track eventually passes along the southern edge of a large walled
enclosure, and then bears left, climbing gently to meet the Newbiggin
road, almost opposite a stony track along which the route continues. Walk-
ers bound for Newbiggin-on-Lune should turn right at the road and follow it down to the
village, a little over 1km (0.6 miles) distant.
Bad Weather Route (by the road through Mazon Wath)
If taking the road option, turn left on reaching the road and cross a cattle-
grid just north of Sunbiggin Tarn, of which there is a lovely view. ( Note
If you wish, there is the possibility of shortcutting this a little by continu-
ing along a path north of Spear Pots to reach the Asby road about 500m
southwest of its junction with the Newbiggin road.)
Continue towards the junction with the Newbiggin road, and here bear
right, cutting the corner a little, and then follow an undulating road past
the scattered dwellings at Mazon Wath, and then on as far as a conspicu-
ous stony track on the left about 300m south of a cattle-grid. Walkers bound
for Newbiggin-on-Lune should keep forward along the road and follow it down to the vil-
lage, a little over 1km (0.6 miles) distant.
On-going Route
Cross the Newbiggin road and follow a stony track heading past the domed
and fenced mound of a reservoir, and then east along the north side of a
wall towards Ewefell Mire, before bearing away to a gate. Beyond, contin-
ue below Great Ewe Fell and Bents Hill, still parallel with the wall.