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~Nine Standards Rigg~

1st June 2013

Nine Standards Rigg

The Standards

Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....

Hellifield Service Train

Hellifield Service Train

This is a re-run of an earlier plan to reach Kirkby Stephen and walk up to Nine Standards Rigg from the station. Hopefully the train won't be as busy this time! It's £11.90 for a return ticket to Kirkby Stephen, fantastcic value for money! More so if you can find a seat.

Kirkby Stephen Railway Station Pennine Hills
Kirkby Stephen Railway Station
North Pennine Hills

Arriving at KS at 10:34hrs, the station is viewed from the footbridge and the skyline shows Hartley Fell, home to Nine Standards Rigg and, to the right, Tailbridge Hill. Izzy the Dog is with me and it's looking good!

Station Walk

Station Walk

The railway station for Kirkby Stephen is about a mile from the town centre, a walk which will be uphill on the way back - bear that in mind if you're visiting the area by rail. We're heading for the River Eden and Stenkrith Bridge.

Pied Wagtail Worm in mouth
Pied Wagtail
Food for the Nest

~~~~~

Stenkrith Bridge Stainmore Line
Miners Bridge
Stainmore Line

Walkers use the old Miners Bridge and join the trackbed of the redundant railway route of the Stainmore Line. One thing I always find interesting is the rate of recovery by the local flora, once the track has been lifted. You can date the withdrawal of the services by the age of the trees - if you have the time and equipment to cut down one of them and count the rings.

Wild Boar Fell

Wild Boar Fell

A break in the line of trees offers a view of Wild Boar Fell, seen beyond the small village of Nateby.

Podgill Viaduct

Podgill Viaduct

Restored for public use by The Northern Viaduct Trust. On this occasion, I had no opportunity to see the viaduct from further away, that'll be for another day. Not much further on is Merrygill Viaduct.

Site of Signal Box Merrygill Viaduct
Site of Signal Box
Merrygill Viaduct

Soon after crossing Merrygill Viaduct, our route took us past Hartley Quarry. The way from Kirkby Stephen to Nine Standards Rigg and beyond to Keld is part of the usual Coast-to-Coast route.

Hartley Road

The road, seen here, goes around Hartley Quarry, then west of Birkett Hill. Walkers can bring their cars quite a long way up this road, if they want a shorter walk up to NSR.

Reigill Dukerdale
Reigill
Dukerdale

The high valley of Dukerdale is bordered by Rollinson (l) and Tailbridge Hill (r).

Faraday Gill Faraday Gill

Faraday Gill

An oasis of fresh water, high up the fell, after many dry stream beds on the way up.

The Standards

Approaching the Nine Standards

According to sources on the internet, these stone cairns suffer from weather extremes and maybe human interferance. "Locals" repair the stonework and keep the number at nine.

Variuos Standards

Differing Standards

The "best" standard is nearest the camera and offers seating all the way around. The first one (from the north) is the only square-shaped one.

Nine Standards Rigg

Nine Standards Rigg

"They" don't know the origin of the cairns. If all fell tops had such fine summit furniture, life would be so much more exciting!

NSR View

North-Western View

The all around view from the top is fantastic. To the north-west, the scene shows Kirkby Stephen with Blencathra much further away. A fell-identifying plaque was erected in 1981 to commemorate the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Other than the plaque there is a trig column at the highest point.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

I'd met a lady near the top who said that she had heard a Golden Plover, but not been able to see one. I had a little more luck. Just to the south of the summit is a meeting of paths and it's a horrible, boggy, peaty mess - one of the worst I've ever encountered! Who cares? Maybe if all C-2-C'ers put into a fell path repair pot, some boarding could be afforded. Maybe they already do have a fund?

Dukerdale

Dukerdale

Wild Flower

Wild Flower: Mountain Pansy

Tailbridge Hill

Tailbridge Hill

From here, I chose to head for the country road and let the tarmac lead me into Nateby, where I had heard there was a tearoom.

Nateby B6270
Nateby
B6270

The B6270 runs from Nateby to Keld and is poplular with cyclists, motorcyclists and sheep.

Nateby Inn

Nateby Inn

The pub has a tearoom at the back - that's the good news. The bad news is that it shuts at 4pm and here we are at ten minutes before. The staff were very kind and made me a pot of tea - I think the pub may remain open throughout.

North Pennine Fells

North Pennine Fells

Looking back, Nine Standards Rigg is to the left, Tailbridge Hill in the centre and High Pike to the right. There is a farm bridge over the River Eden, so that walkers can get from Nateby to Kirkby Stephen Railway Station, without having to go towards Kirkby Stephen first.

Kirkby Stephen Railway Station

Kirkby Stephen Railway Station

Walkers: Me & Izzy The Dog

Time taken: 6 hours 35 minutes over a distance of about 12 miles, including a few stops and the pub visit.

Route: KS Railway Station, Stenkrith Bridge, Podgill and Merrygill Viaducts, above Hartley Quarry, Reigill, Nine Standards Rigg, Rollinson Haggs, Tailbridge Hill, B6270, Nateby, south-west to the farm bridge, Halfpenny House, Station Walk, Kirkby Stephen Railway Station.

Weather: Sunny periods, declining to sunny intervals, the northerly breeze allowing for lower than average temperatures and clear views.

Refreshments: Tearoom at Nateby Inn is open from noon to 4pm, I'd like to have seen more of the menu and assessed the facility more thoroughly.

All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©

Take me back to the start ....

Take me home....