Mazon Wath, Little Asby - Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Orton to Kirkby Stephen subsection
Mazon Wath Farm and Scar House (opposite, on left)
Mazon Wath, Little Asby - Coast to Coast
Nestling beneath the limestone escarpment of Little Asby Scar, Mazon Wath is a secluded enclosure of rough pasture divided by a lonely moorland road and crossed by the clear waters of Potts Beck. Opposite stands Scar House, while beyond, the limestone pavements of Little Asby Common rise towards one of Cumbria’s finest karst landscapes. Less than a mile north-east of Sunbiggin Tarn, the area is carefully managed for ground-nesting birds, including curlews and lapwings, whose calls are often carried across the open fell.
The name Mazon Wath is traditionally interpreted as “the ford where the titmice gather”, referring to the crossing of Potts Beck. A wath is an old Norse-derived word for a ford, still found in many place names across Cumbria and Yorkshire, while titmouse is the older name for the small woodland birds we now simply call tits, such as the blue tit, great tit and coal tit. Whether or not the name originated exactly in this way, it perfectly captures the quiet, bird-rich character of this peaceful corner of the Orton Fells.
Mazon Wath Farm
Nestled beside Potts Beck beneath the limestone escarpment of Little Asby Scar, Mazon Wath Farm occupies one of the most peaceful settings on the Orton Fells. Surrounded by rough pasture, dry-stone walls and open moorland, it sits at the gateway to a landscape shaped by limestone, clear springs and centuries of traditional hill farming.
Fell Head Farm Mazon Wath
Standing on the open moorland south of Mazon Wath, Fell Head Farm occupies a wonderfully isolated setting beneath the limestone heights of Little Asby Scar. Surrounded by rough pasture and dry-stone walls, it reflects the quiet farming traditions that have shaped this remote corner of the Orton Fells for generations.
Potts Pond Mazon Wath
Set against the limestone backdrop of Little Asby Scar, this quiet pond marks the edge of Mazon Wath’s enclosed pasture. Beyond the dry-stone wall, the rough grassland of Little Asby Common begins, the contrasting vegetation revealing the change from improved farmland to the wild limestone fell.
🪨 Insight - Geology
Why Does Potts Beck Grow So Quickly?
At first sight, Potts Beck seems far too substantial for a stream that rises only a short distance from Sunbiggin Tarn. The answer lies beneath the surface. Little Asby Scar is formed from Carboniferous Limestone, a rock that is naturally fissured and highly permeable. Rainwater seeps into these cracks before travelling underground through the limestone.
Where the permeable limestone meets less permeable rocks beneath, the hidden water is forced back to the surface as springs. Many of these emerge along the foot of Little Asby Scar, feeding Potts Beck long before it reaches Mazon Wath. This continuous input explains why the beck gains volume so rapidly despite its relatively short journey from the tarn.
This process is characteristic of a karst landscape, where underground drainage, springs, limestone pavements and disappearing streams combine to create one of Britain’s most distinctive geological environments. The limestone scars around Little Asby are among the finest examples of this remarkable landscape in Cumbria.
Mazon Wath Farmhouse
Standing at the heart of the Mazon Wath enclosure, this traditional Cumbrian farmhouse sits beneath the limestone escarpment of Little Asby Scar. Surrounded by dry-stone walls, rough pasture and the clear waters of Potts Beck, it perfectly reflects the quiet, timeless character of this secluded corner of the Orton Fells.
Potts Beck Mazon Wath
Potts Beck winds gently through the enclosed pastures of Mazon Wath beneath the limestone slopes of Little Asby Scar. Fed by numerous springs, the beck gathers strength remarkably quickly after leaving the vicinity of Sunbiggin Tarn, yet still flows almost level across this tranquil upland landscape.
Hiking the Coast to Coast trail guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast is a digitally enhanced eBook designed to accompany you on your journey along the Coast to Coast path. Available on Apple Books for iPhone, iPad and Mac, the guide includes:
• Mapping with interactive features
• Step-by-step route directions
• Hundreds of colour photographs
• Route conditions in different weather
• Historical and cultural points of interest
Whether you’re planning your trip or already on the trail, it’s a practical and beautifully illustrated resource to carry with you.
