Standards

About Standards

This wild, peaty shoulder sits on the high watershed between the Eden Valley and Swaledale. Located on the broad ridge south of the more famous Nine Standards Rigg, it offers a quieter alternative to its popular neighbour, providing expansive views across the rolling moors of the northern Yorkshire Dales.

Key Statistics

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Old English 'standard', referring to a prominent marker or flag. In this region, it specifically relates to the ancient boundary cairns that line the ridge, marking the historical border between Westmorland and the North Riding of Yorkshire.
• •The hill is situated on the primary watershed of Northern England; rain falling on the western slopes drains into the River Eden and the Irish Sea, while eastern rainfall feeds the River Swale on its long journey to the North Sea.
• •To the southwest, the distinctive flat-topped plateau of Wild Boar Fell dominates the skyline, while the rounded, grass-covered humps of the Howgill Fells are clearly visible across the Eden Valley to the west.
• •The terrain around this point is notorious among Coast to Coast walkers for its deep peat hags and 'black mires', which can make navigation challenging and progress slow during the wetter winter months.
• •Local legend suggests the nearby cairns were built by the Roman army to look like a line of soldiers from a distance, though they are more likely to be simple boundary markers that have been rebuilt many times over the centuries.
• •Following a compass bearing across this plateau in a thick Pennine mist is an excellent way to discover exactly how much water a single peat bog can hold before it gives way under a boot.