The crossing of Nine Standards Rigg from Kirkby Stephen to Keld is walked by one of three season-specific routes (below), rotated to let the fragile blanket peat recover. All three start in Kirkby Stephen and finish in Keld, on the great watershed of England.
Nine Standards Rigg — three seasonal routes
Red route (May–Jul) · 18.5 km
Early-summer route over the summit of Nine Standards Rigg and its ancient cairns, then south over White Mossy Hill before dropping to Keld in Swaledale.
Early-summer route over the summit of Nine Standards Rigg and its ancient cairns, then south over White Mossy Hill before dropping to Keld in Swaledale.
Blue route (Aug–Nov) · 18.5 km
Late-summer and autumn route over Nine Standards Rigg, descending east of the summit by Whitsundale to Keld.
Late-summer and autumn route over Nine Standards Rigg, descending east of the summit by Whitsundale to Keld.
Green route (Dec–Apr) · 17.0 km
Winter and spring route that avoids the fragile summit bogs, following lower ground via the Coast to Coast road and Ravenseat to Keld.
Winter and spring route that avoids the fragile summit bogs, following lower ground via the Coast to Coast road and Ravenseat to Keld.
Highlights
- Nine Standards Rigg cairns
- Whitsundale
- Swaledale
Know before you go
- Designated route for AUGUST–NOVEMBER
- Boggy ground