Whitsun Dale North, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Kirkby Stephen to Keld subsection
Whitsundale Beck from Ney Gill Hill
Whitsundale North, Ravenseat, Coast to Coast
Whitsun Dale is a North Yorkshire valley that begins at the foot of Davy Mea on the Birkdale blanket bog plateau, and flows south east until reaching Ravenseat, whereupon the valley broadens and turns south. It is a long valley. This article describes the north section from its source on White Mossy Hill to Ravenseat. Another article describes the south section of Whitsun Dale.
Whitsundale has been shaped by the Whitsundale Beck which first enters the valley as Backstone Beck. Backstone Beck is a 2nd order beck, the principle 1st order becks being Near Grains and Far Grains. The womb of Far Grains is Millstone Hags on Davey Mea and the womb of Near Grains is the peat and haggs of White Mossy Hill, between the Nine Standards and White Mossy Hill's summit. This is the precise location where the red and blue routes of the Coast to Coast path diverge. The two routes are paved where they meet due to the difficulty of negotiating the paths, and are clearly signed. Whitsundale Beck is a substantial body of water that converges with the River Swale at High Bridge, between the southern sections of Birkdale Common and West Stonesdale Out Pasture.
Near Grains Path Junction
Near Grains has its source on the 640m contour of White Mossey Hill, in a vast area of blanket bog. Blanket bog is generally found on flat or gently sloping ground with poor drainage. At its source, Near Grains was once a terrible ordeal to navigate, but unavoidable for walkers of the Coast to Coast path. This is where the path's red and blue routes diverge. The immediate vicinity of the junction is now surfaced with paving flags to reduce soil erosion and and for ease of navigation.
Blue Route on Davy Mea
The Blue Route of the Coast to Coast path trundles over Davy Mea, a very wet area of blanket bog, on route to Craygill Scar where the path meets Whitsun Dale. Looking back the 659m White Mossy Hill assumes the skyline. The path, which is often indistinct, is identified by round fence posts at intervals of about 200m. In clear weather the upcoming post can always be sighted.
Davy Mea
Whitsun Dale is observeable for most of the trek over Davy Mea. So long as you keep to the path the worst of the rills, channels and gutters can be avoided, but not all of them.
Davy Mea
The bogs on Davy Mea just go on and on. Some of the gutters that have to be crossed, even in dry weather, result in wet feet, and the path itself goes straight through them. Trying to find a way round them results in something far worse.
Craygill Scar
At Craygill Scar the path suddenly steepens as it descends 50 metres to Whitsundale Beck, and veers ninety degrees to head south to follow the Whitsundale Beck riverbank. Although out of the blanket bog, the path is nevertheless quite boggy.
Foxholes
The Blue Route across Davy Mea emerges at Whitsun Dale opposite to Fox Holes, which is a badlands type terrain at the foot of the 575m Round Hill. The top of this Hill is named Old Side Top on the OS, and has a mere with the name of Red Mea Well, described as a spring.
Whitsundale North
From Foxholes you can gaze along the whole northern section of Whitsun Dale, and can discern many of the Whitsundale Beck's meanders. The west bank (right) is part of Cogill Hill, and the opposing bank is Low Whitsundale Edge.
Alderson Seat
Alderson Seat is a 558m hill on Ravenseat Moor. It is perched above Low Whitsundale Edge. The summit cairn is visible from the Beck opposite to Cogill Hill.
Great Cogill
Great Cogill is another large tributary to the Whitsundale Beck. It originates in the swampy head waters of Lady Dike Head, upon the plateau above, and merges with Whitsundale Beck at the foot of Wether Hill, opposite Alderson Seat.
Whitsun Dale from Little Cogill
At Little Cogill, the Whitsundale Beck offers an impressive view as it wends its way down the valley towards Ravenseat.
Little Cogill
Little Cogill derives its water from the quagmire at the top of Cogill Hill and Cogill Knott, which appears to be associated with water draining down from Lady Dike Head.
Whitsun Dale Fawcett Intake
The Blue Route of the Coast to Coast path skirts the foot of Black Hill. On the opposite bank is Hog Hill. The path then climbs Ney Gill Hill to reach the farmer's road over Friar Side to Ravenseat.
Approach to Ravenseat
Ravenseat comes into view as the north section of Whitsun Dale broadens out and comes to an end.
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.
