Tan Hill, Robert's Seat, Ravenseat, Whitsun Dale, Round Hill, Nth Yorkshire.
[ 16.1 km] Wed  08 Jul 2009

Start/finish NY 8971 0667
There was nobody about when I arrived at the Tan Hill Inn just before 8am. Only the diesel engine of the generator indicated there was anybody there. I set off down the Keld road for a short way before turning right at the way-marker to follow a path down to Stonesdale Beck. Due to recent heavy rain the path was quite wet in places but I managed to reach the bridge over the beck without getting my feet wet. A short way down Stonesdale Beck was a stone footbridge which I crossed to get to the path up the side of Thomas Gill Mea.

Interesting sky above Stonesdale Moor

On the ridge the well defined path ran SW along Robert’s Seat Band. It was an easy walk and gave nice views across Stonesdale to the opposite fells and a dramatic sky. Just over the summit was an old quarry where I had a sit down to have a cup of coffee out of the wind. The path continues to descend along the side of the wonderfully named Pryclose Gutter. I had now reached a collection of buildings called Ravenseat but none seemed to have an individual name. The farm had a table and chairs outside advertising drinks and food. I fancied a scone but couldn’t find any change in my rucksack. So not wanting to burden them with a £5 note I continued on my way.

Over the narrow stone bridge I followed the farm track for a while then crossed an indistinct route to Ney Gill then into Whitsun Dale. The first field was horribly boggy and the path didn’t improve until higher up the beck. Opposite Cat Syke I stopped for a lunch break then hopped across the beck to climb up towards Burnt Hill. There was no footpath anywhere but the going was reasonably OK. I was heading for a tarn on the summit of Old Side Top but missed it and had to cut to the right. Being on the summit its not visible from a distance but it was worth the detour to find it.

Food, drink and a nice chair were
available at Ravenseat Farm.

The views around were good. My next objective was a tall cairn above Red Mea Syke. It was very obvious in the distance and after passing it I descended to the shelter that is shown on the map. It’s a substantial wooden open sided building with a tin roof. While there I finished the last of the coffee in my flask and headed roughly east across come wet ground back towards Robert’s Seat Band where I re-joined the path I’d come out on. When I got to the footbridge at Stonesdale Beck I didn’t follow the wet path but cut across to the road where I had a much easier return to Tan Hill.