Nine Standards Rigg

Nine Standards Rigg is regularly visited for two main reasons. Firstly it is on (actually just off) the official route of the Coast to Coast. Secondly there is a series of large, imposing but intriguing cairns lined up on the summit plateau. Quite where these came from is a mystery. The less interesting theory is that they marked a boundary line between Eden and Swaledale. A more interesting story is that the Romans or later the English built them to scare off the Scots. However, another theory is from Alfred Wainwright who simply believed the locals were just bored and it seemed like a good idea at the time!