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.

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.

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.

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.