Rokan Stone, Glaisdale, Coast to Coast
Historical and Educational Articles for Lion Inn to Grosmont
Rokan Stone, Glaisdale Rigg. Viewed along the Rigg, looking north east
Rokan Stone, Glaisdale Rigg, Coast to Coast
The Rokan Stone is positioned along the Coast to Coast path, just beyond its intersection with Yarlsgate, an ancient highway, now surfaced with tarmac, and at the side of which the Black Hill Cross and Hart Leap Stones are also located. Yarlesgate was once the main route between Whitby and South West England. The Rigg is part of Glaisdale Moor and is not far north east of Fryup Trough and the head of Great Fryup Dale. From the Stone's location there are impressive views along Glaisdale Rigg, and to Great Fryup Dale and Glaisdale Valley.
A quarter mile south of the Rokan Stone is Birk Wath Beck, one of the main source waters of Glaisdale Beck. The Beck issues from near the 401m summit of Glaisdale Moor, known as Peat Hill.
Rokan Stone South Face
On the south face of the Rokan Stone is etched "ROKAN STON". The etching has so far faded that it is very difficult to make out. The name Rokan or Roke is believed to mean a thick, moist fog, as the area is prone to produce. It was described so by the Reverend John Atkinson in his 1891 book "Forty Years in a Moorland Parish". It was he who first brought attention to the Underhills at the head of Great Fryup Dale and theorised that they were produced by the action of a huge glacial lake during the last Ice Age.
Rokan Stone Glaisdale Rigg
North Face of the Rokan Stone. The Stone is a marker stone, but its history is elusive, not much being known about it. It is discovered almost immediately upon exiting the Cut Road to continue forward along Yarlesgate, the moorland Rigg road.
East Side of Rokan Stone
The east side of the Rokan Stone, i.e. looking to the road, appears tiered due to its unique shape. To the east of the Stone is the head of Glaisdale. On the far side of the road is the declining east face of Glaisdale Rigg, which soon becomes declivitous as it drops to Great Fryup Dale above Fryup Lodge.
West Side of Rokan Stone
Looking at the Rokan Stone from the road, you can see right into Glaisdale Valley, with its fertile arable fields. The Valley appears where the moorland drops away suddently near to Birk Wath Beck, a watercourse bearing a waterfall, and becomes Hardhill Gill before merging with Glaisdale Beck.
Glaisdale Rigg Looking North
Even in February Glaisdale Rigg can impart a hauntingly beautiful depiction. This image is looking north from the Rokan Stone to the 326m summit of Glaisdale Rigg with Glaisdale Valley to its east.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
