Millstones, Birkdale, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Kirkby Stephen to Keld subsection
Approaching Millstones on Birkdale Common
Millstones, Birkdale Common, Coast to Coast
Millstones appears on the Ordnance Survey at a location on Birkdale Common close to a former millstone grit quarry. This is a section of the Red Route of the Coast to Coast path midway between Lady Dike Head and the shooting box near Rowantree Gill, and identifies an area of ground substantially different from that of Lady Dike Head. There are large outcroppings of millstone grit and the ground is considerably drier.
Millstones is at the south east end of Coldbergh Side, where the wet soft ground gives way to the harder and drier millstone grit, and an obvious look out point for Coast to Coast walkers.
Top edge of Coldbergh Side
After leaving Lady Dike Head and the Pile of Stones 1/4 mile further on, the Red Route of the Coast to Coast path undergoes a substantial change. Gone are the peat hags. The rills are substantially reduced and although the ground remains a little wet it is much drier. At this point the welcome sight of the distant Millstones cairn should be in view.
Approaching Millstones
Millstones is part of the east-west gritstone plateau that runs north and south of Swaledale, and which converge at the dale's head. Birkdale Common is managed for grouse shooting purposes, and there is a shooting box just a mile from Millstones, on the Coast to Coast path near to where Ney Gill springs.
Cairn at Millstones
Millstones is almost certainly named after the millstone grit beneath the turf, with evidence thereof lying around. In the past this will have been a millstone quarry, as the name of the area implies, used for such purposes as dry-stone walling. Millstones is one of the drier areas of Birkdale Common and it is not uncommon to see people enjoying a picnic there during the barmy summer months.
Millstones from Keld Road
From the B6270 Keld Road, near to where Coldbergh Sike passes below the road to converge with Uldale Beck, the large cairn topping Millstones, and the obvious exposure of millstone grit surrounding it, flag the position of the Coast to Coast path on the plateau ridge above.
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.
