From the Reigill area on the lower slopes of Hartley Fell there is a perfect line of sight to the head of Dukerdale. The Green Route of the Coast to Coast path sweeps along the walled east edge of Low Dukerdale, passes around High Dukerdale and follows the curve around the head of the dale, then south over Lamps Moss to the Keld road. The opposing west (right) ridge is Nateby Common.

A quarter mile south of Dukerdale Head is Lady Bog. This is the source of the Rigg Beck, the stream that flows through the centre of Dukerdale Valley. Rigg Beck becomes Ladthwaite Beck as it reaches the valley entrance at Ladthwaite.

A dramatic, un-named beck bisects Dukerdale about midway to its head. It materialises from a point below Nine Standards in close proximity to some disused mining operations. The Beck passes through a gap between the multiplicity of disused mine shafts stippled along the upper edge of the boundary wall.

The east side of the boundary wall has scores of disused mine shafts, easily mistaken for shake holes or swallow holes. At High Dukerdale, separated from Low Dukerdale by the Rollinson Gill, a promontory juts out into the valley, its sides steeply cut away by the Gill.

From the Coast to Coast green route as it nears High Dukerdale, a view along the deep abyssal gulch of Rollinson Gill is present as you march forward. Rollinson Haggs are where the Rollinson Gill is born.

Rigg Beck's birth canal from Lady Bog is a broad sunken expanse of swamp grass, water and mud, working its way downstream to gush over the valley lip.

The Green Route of the Coast to Coast path passes over the Rigg Beck at the head of Dukerdale Valley. The Beck attains the valley entrance at Ladthwaite, between the two Birkett Hills, one each side of the valley. At this point the Beck becomes known as the Ladthwaite Beck and makes its passage through Ewbank Scar and then beneath the Podgill Viaduct. It converges with the River Eden at Castle Hill.

Each side of the Rigg Beck, where the Coast to Coast path crosses over it, there are scores of pot holes. The area is known as Dukerdale pots. From here, south westwards, the blanket bog gives way to limestone.

Looking back from the Coast to Coast path near Rollinson Gill, the trail of the Rigg Beck can be followed by eye to its source on Lady Bog.

Lamps Moss is an enclosed area of the moorland, although with access for path walkers. The whole area is decked with a limestone pavement, much of which has large clumps of tufted grass growing from the grikes. There is a deep limestone fissure running through Lamps Moss, some of which is underground.

Between Lamps Moss and Lady Bog a large limestone fissure snakes along the edge of the Bog. It is deep, dark and perilous, and much of it travels beneath the surface.

Coast to Coast Trail Guide

"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.