Great Asby limestone pavement, cairns and an OS trig point at the Knott.

Wednesday 27th February.

This was to be the last walk of our short stay in Crosby Garrett. The weather forecast was good but not as good as the previous days. There was the possibility of a shower.
I picked a clockwise circular route starting from the road junction at NY68528 09120 Middle Busk, where there is plenty of parking and a new stone wind break.

We headed west across moorland on a footpath that was very hit and miss, more sheep trod than footpath. Ahead we could just about make out where the path crossed a field wall so we just took the path of least resistance. The ground inside the intake fields was in very good condition as is generally the case in these Dales.

When we reached the Dales High Way track we joined it heading north, hand railing the wall until it exits onto open moor. Just through the last gate we startled a Mountain Hare in summer guise. It shot off at a fair rate of knots and disappeared down between the limestone.

Views were quite restricted especially over Orton towards the Lake District, we could just about make out the shapes of the Mallerstang hills but looking northwards it was reasonable. There was a strong smell of grass burning being carried on the wind but we couldn’t see anything.

We followed the wall west and then south west heading for the 412 metre OS trig point on the Knott. At the last wall there is a stile but it doesn't get you over the wall to the trig point which I find a bit strange. A stile would stop potential wall damage from people climbing over. Anyway we managed it with a bit of a balancing act. Then once we had recorded our visit to the trig point we retraced our steps back.

 Good stile over the RH wall but the wrong wall to get to the trig point.

OS Trig 412 Metres on the Knott. Poor visibility over Orton.

 Over the wall is the prehistoric settlement of Castle Folds on the raised knoll.

All this route is on private land but the Coast to Coast route uses it too, so we are in good company. From our high point we had a great view of Castle Folds, an ancient settlement on a knoll surrounded by a limestone scar.
We walked past Castle Folds without climbing up onto the knoll. There are lots of cairns on the plateau and we did each one in turn and taking in High Pike. Why it’s called High Pike I don’t know because it’s neither. Walking wasn’t as easy as it seems on the map because of the limestone crevices which need to be crossed with care, especially if wet.

 One of numerous cairns on route with the mass in the background.

 Sheila on High Pike.

Back at the Dales High Way track we crossed it again and went to visit the two cairns on Great Kinmond. One either side of the dividing wall.

 Looking back from the track up Great Kinmond.

 Stile giving access to both cairns.

 Hazy view across Sunbiggin Tarn to Mallerstang.

Following the wall east until it curves south we left the wall here and walked along Grange Scar picking out natural breaks in the plateau until the car came into view. A good path off the plateau lead directly back.

Centre, the new stone wind break and Little Asby Scar beyond. The car just out of view to the right.