Nine Standards Rigg

A quick dash up here whilst on the way across the Pennines to visit family.

The nine standards are ancient cairns that stand on the ridge above Kirkby Stephen. They are sturdy, but on the skyline they catch the worst weather, so freezing and thawing over time causes collapse - rebuilds are frequent. It is not known who built them initially, when or why. They are very old and have been found in the historical record for over 500 years. Legend has it that they were built by the Romans to look like troops from the valley below. A grand spot for a picnic.