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Edit 25/09/2022 some photos from an earlier visit going East to WEst are now includedThe limestone scars between Orton and Kirkby Stephen form a rather narrow North-South band only 2 - 3 km wide. However when I lived in Soulby I wanted a rather longer walk and developed an East- West route across them starting in Orton - or more conveniently at the cattlegrid where the B6260 Orton to Appleby road enters the open access land - and finishing at the Black Swan - a friendly watering hole in the village of Ravenstonedale (Rassendale or even Russel to it's inhabitantants).
I even managed to persuade the local authority to construct two new stiles so that walls could be crossed without damaging them.
N.B. There are lots of paths on the route, but by and large you don't follow any of them, so a map and compass are essential, and I have written this report as a series of instructionsStarting at the cattle grid at the top of the hill follow the North side of a wall past a large monument to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee,
The start along the N side of the wallThe monument comes into sightAt the 1887 monument Go R through a gateway, and continue on the South side of the wall until it turns sharp L The wall corner - looking back West. Continue in the same line until you meet the wall again and descend to a gate in a dip - not easy to see from a distance.
easy to go too far LIn the open space beyondLooking back towards the monumentGateway in the dip If you start in Orton itself, you join the walk here following paths through Scarside farm.
Go through the gate, but instead of following the big track, head off at about 2 o'clock and climb limestone pavement towards a lone bush on a limestone ridge
Bush on the horizonOn the limestone pavement, , Descend to a stile - also not obvious from afar
again further R than you think - and cross into Great Asby Scar Nature Reserve. The terrain on this section is much the most difficult - it tends to ease as the walk progresses
There is a more limestone pavement up to the R, but the next objective - straight ahead - is a group of three large cairns: it is easiest to keep on the low ground on the L, go through a gate and climb up to them.
The three cairns have now been replaced by five but they are nothing like so prominent::however a section of fencing has been removed and you can head straight for themThe stile is further R than you might thinkHeading up to the cairns - CairnsBiggest cairnWe had a brief rest beside the cairns: you should be around 75-90 min into the walk at this point From the cairns head diagonally R (about SW) to a wall and follow it for nearly 1km into a square corner with gates on the S and W side.
You can also cross the wall through a gate and follow the South side - this is what we did this time Heading diagonally R: Wild Boar Fell at the backOn the recent walk we came across this cairn - marking nothing in particular Looking South to some trees with the Howgills: behind L... Early Purple Orchid ........ R Wood anemonies Herb RobertThis gate crosses to the South of the wall - I' m afraid all the gates look rather similarAnd this one which is new leads into the corner: the wall can be seen continuing on the far R -
we went through it and immediately R through the this one, and followed a large track South: but after about 50m headed almost due E - slightly uphill - to cross a new stile Crossing the new stileContinue following the N side of the wall - yes it's the same old wall you started along
- until it turns R, then head along a shallow grassy depression (about ENE) and bear R up to a ridge with several cairns overlooking the unclassified road between Raisebeck and Great Asby.
There are a lot of cairns on this ridge and if you find yoursellf overlooking Sunbiggin tarn you need to follow the ridge NE above the roadA general view East across the featureless landscapeThis is the "correct" cairnThe village of Liitle Asby Drop down, cross the road, ascend the other side and head just S of E keeping close to the Northern edge of the open access land.
Potts ValleyApproaching the Potts ValleyThe sides of Potts valley are steep - precipitous in most places - and the only easy way in is by a path at the Northern end. Cross the beck - usually managed dryshod - cross another new stile, head briefly S and follow a diagonal track up the other side.
Approaching the valley - this view looks NorthThe track descending to the streamCrossing the Potts beck going East to WestLooking across - the track up the other side is no longer visible - I guess because lockdown has dramatically reduced the amount of traffic From the far side looking South down and across the valleyGroup assembled above the valley - from an earlier occasion headed East to WestWhere this track turns L - heading for Crosby Garrett - it is necessary to head on a compass bearing (about SE) for the 382m top of Nettle Hill . you cross two tracks but ignore them.
There is a new fence hereabouts but a gate to cross it: we headed South down the track on the its far side, and headed across the rough ground to Nettle Hill at its nearest pointI have a feeling the Trig point at the top of Nettle hill is seldom visitedFrom Nettle Hill descend about SSE and rejoin the path which heads hrough a metal gate and then S to join a path that crosses the disused Smardale railway by a bridge: You are on the Coast to Coast path at this point.
We rejoined our track and headed South through a metal gate: Wild Boar Fell again behindJunction with the Coast to Coast Turn R and descend to and cross an old stone bridge over Smardale beck. it is interesting that although this area sits between the two sources of the Lune, these two becks have cut though the limestone and run North to join the Eden.
Looking down to the old stone bridge - through the rain Immediately beyond the bridge go R and follow tracks though fields to Ravenstonedale, crossing the main A685 (care) - there are stiles on either side. After crossing the road follow the track though the field and over a tiny rivulet to a stile. Beyond the stile turn L and then immediately R down a track. at the end of this the Black Swan and a well earned pint are about 50m on the R.
Again due to lockdown the tracks in the fields South of the stone bridge are quite indistinctInstead of crossing the stone bridge, you can also follow tracks on the W side of Smardale beck and arrive in the village
Footnote
If you prefer to shorten the walk by finishing at Crosby Garrett head North after crossing Potts valley.. Just beyond two mature trees an inviting gate in a corner suggests the way. But the track beyond is VERY muddy and it is much better to stay on the open access land and enter the village under the huge railway viaduct