9 Standard Rigg

[MunroMad]

A beautiful day in the Dales. I bunked off work to go walking as the weather was so fine. There is something so natural and great about a man venturing into the wilderness, at one with nature, rather than working the grind out in an office, surrounded by people in suits with places to go, walking with such purpose...I wonder if they ever think why for.

On a less Philosophical note, the journey brought me into Kirkby Stephen station at 1040 and I started my walk knowing I had to be back at 1554 for the train home or risk waiting around for around 2 hours. The walk was great. I walked in the direction of Wharton Hall and down to the river, over the bridge and into Nateby. Note, this is already around 80m descent from 280m at the station to 200m in Nateby. The climb up was on the B road heading up and over the pass toward the eastern dales. The walk to Ladywaite was tiring, it involved going up hill to around 380 m before dropping back down to 80 m again. A route via Lockewaite might have been easier! The slow and steady slopes of Nine Standard Rigg and Hartley fell were nice, it gives the walker something to look at, the view behind extended to Old Man Coniston, Skiddaw, Howgill Fells and up towards the Northern Pennines, Cross Fell. That region was subject to aerial bombardment for most the day might add, a disturbance of the peace that threw the walker off a bit, and that was before being overtaken several times by a dirt biker that also made use of the glorious and warm weather.

On the approach to the summit, the 9 massive cairns stood majestically at the top of the glistening white slopes, as if to welcome you to the summit. The view behind was stunning and breathtaking. There are 9 Cairns at the top, but this is not the true summit. There is a viewpoint cairn 500m along the ridge and then the real summit at 662m another 500m along at the trig point.

Descent was via the same way. After running in Scarpa Manta boots uphill to the station (not in any way advised) I managed to jump on the train just as the last door was closing at 1553 and 58 seconds. Northern Rail had for once been on time!! Oh what a day it was.

Ascent 680 m, Descent 620 m, 3ft of snow at the top, drifts as much as 6 ft in places.

[37lumleyst]

I bunked off work to go walking as the weather was so fine.

Great report MunroMad; not sure I subscribe to bunking off work but like you say, great weather for being out on the hills. I love that part of the England, I think you get a real feel for how wild the North of England can be.

I always allow a moment to day-dream about what the Romans must have thought when they came across the North of England too it’s a far cry from the Med that’s for sure

[gaffr]

Grand looking country for hardy folks to live in...all a bit battered and bruised with some history too....is that part of old man Wainwright's traverse from the west to the East coast?

[MunroMad]

Yes I believe it is stage 6 or 7 of that traverse starting in Kirkby Stephen and finishing in Keld. Although, you do not have to take route of the summit you can go for the lower level route....but where would the fun be in that?

This place is steeped in history, There is Pendragon castle, for example, as being owned by Uther Pendragon himself.

[johnnyaztec]

Looking at your route map you wont have seen this on your walk ,but i did, a plane and grass runway,this was in the region of Hartley cant remember exactly where.

It just looked really bizarre to me to be stuck out there in the middle of The Dales.

Runway strip

[kirkbystephenstation]

Next time you do Nine Standards allow some time at the end for a cuppa and homemade bun at our station shop! Open until 1720 every day except Sunday, later for walks parties by arrangement. Also FYI the Council are just starting work on a hard surface path linking the station and Kirkby Stephen town, even now people still miss the field path and take their life in their hands walking on the main road.