27 March 2017

Mud, mud, not so glorious mud

Nine Standards

When two or more Coast to Coast walkers are gathered together the talk always turns to the notorious quagmire just beyond the huge cairns on Nine Standards Rigg. 
Bad old days

Stories of crossing - or sinking into - the ever widening bog are rife. 
But now almost 400 metres of stone flagging has been laid across the worst sections. On a glorious spring day the path was officially opened this weekend. Around 30 supporters and sponsers (including, we're proud to say, Skyware Press) gathered to toast the occasion and plant sphagnum moss around the stones. 
Testing out the new path
The total cost of over £30,000 was raised through a crowdfunding scheme set up by the North Pennines AONB and supported by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. There were generous donations from the British Mountaineering Council, HF Holidays, Tesco, the Wainwright Society and many others including local businesses and individual walkers.

So fear no more - the only interuption on the trail from Kirkby Stephen to Keld is a stop at Ravenseat for one of Amanda Own's famous scones.

For information about walking the Coast to Coast see www.coastto.co.uk