Here is the 2nd of this week's blogs

(see after this one for the first)

A circuit  from Hartley fell on the Cumbria-Yorkshire Boundary to Ravenseat & return

 Taking in Nine Standards Rigg, Whitsundale, Ravenseat farm & Ney Gill 

12miles 2000ft

Starting out from the parking area on the Yorkshire Cumbria boundary which coincides with the start of the Yorkshire Dales National Park here on the road from Kirkby Stephen to Reeth 

Climbing Hartley fell the path passes these 'sink holes'. This is limestone country and the holes are formed as water seeps through the limestone rock to caves below causing the ground to subside

Looking down Rigg Beck to Kirkby Stephen....

.....and south to High Pike Hill still in cloud

On Hartley fell summit (2172ft) there is this view finder naming the main features in all 360 degrees....  

......however the main feature is 'Nine Standards Rigg' 5 of  which are pictured here followed by the....

....next 4!! I couldn't find a position to get all 9 in one shot

Close up they are really quite impressive standing several metres high. The origin of these tall cairns which can be seen from miles around remains a mystery

Looking back towards the cairns from the trig point

The 190 mile Coast to Coast Path crosses the summit. It offers a choice of routes at this point dependent on weather and time of year. My circular route would take me to Ravenseat on the Whitsundale path, returning on the Ney Gill path.

I crossed a mile or so of what could be very boggy high moorland where some unfortuates have had to be rescued from being firmly stuck!! The path then descends here into Whitsundale....

.....which meanders for a couple of miles to.....

......Ravenseat.  

This is the home of Amanda Owen's family made famous by the TV series 

"Our Yorkshire Farm" 

The Coast to Coast path passes right through the farm before continuing east towards to Keld and Swaledale

They have provided seating here for tired legs and I think on some days in summer offer afternoon teas 

After consuming my own refreshment I left the farm over Ney beck (there is bridge) and began my return route.

A final look back to Ravenseat as I climbed Ney Gill

The route back was the May to July path, my outward had been on the August to November!! 

Finally having climbed back towards Hartley fell summit I had a view back to Birkdale tarn and the vast expanse of the high Pennine moorlands rising above the Yorkshire Dales

Although I don't think the Pennines (Dales apart) have got that 'chocolate box' beauty of the Lakes  I do always really enjoy the sense of space and freedom. Crossing the high summits listening to the calls of such as curlew & lapwing and today an encounter with a bird of prey but which I unfortunately couldn't identify resulted in a wonderful day's walking