INTO THE DALES - A Northern Coast to Coast Walk: From St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay - page 72

'suggests a contempt for Scottish intelligence that even the English would find hard to
maintain'.
On a clear and fine day there are few places that give a wider, more inspiring panor-
ama of the massive, sprawling beauty of the wild moorlands of northern England than
Nine Standards. It is the most far-reaching view seen on the crossing, extending from
the mounds of Cross Fell, the Dun Fells and Mickle Fell in the north, to the lofty es-
carpment of Wild Boar Fell across the upper Vale of Eden. It is truly a place apart -
somewhere certainly to take a break, to cast your eyes back the way you have come, to
the now hazy-blue Lakeland heights. From here we head into the Dales, and Swaledale
in particular, and although there is nothing to come that is higher than Nine Standards,
it would be a mistake to think it is now downhill all the way from here.
The highest point of Nine Standards Rigg occurs at the trig point, a short way to the
south.
Go south from the Nine Standards to the trig, and follow a broad path
heading for White Mossy Hill. Shortly after crossing a peaty drainage chan-
nel, leave the established path and head left across moorland terrain, then
descend, keeping north of Craygill Sike, to that stream's eventual conflu-
ence with Whitsundale Beck.
Note The onward route to Ravenseat is conventionally by Whitsundale,
but the Yorkshire Dales National Park has introduced seasonal variations
to the route to minimise erosional impact. These alternative routes are
waymarked and notices posted to advise which route to take, although the
whole area is now Access Land.
WHITSUN DALE
Whitsun Dale is a charming retreat, echoing to the call of curlew, buzzard and golden
plover, where, on balmy days, the breeze sighs a soft accompaniment to a melody of
light and shade, herons patrol the stream, and the miles that have gone and are to
come seem like a distant world. Close by, the ever-growing beck fashions an indolent
course, unhurried, reluctant yet to seek out its fate, not far hence. Sheepfolds prolifer-
ate, their sometime occupants dotted about the fellsides, but there is otherwise little to
betray the hand of man in this secluded spot.