Creyr

This site consists of scattered stones and earthwork remains.

The setting of the site – at the foot of Cautley Spout falls – is most impressive.

There is a stone-edged track which leads from the settlement to the foot of the falls and stops there.
This suggests that the falls had special significance.

Park near the Cross Keys on the A683 east of Sedbergh.
(This is a temperance inn so don’t expect a beer after your walk). Follow the footpath signposted Cautley Spout. Its about 3/4 mile to the settlement. The path is often boggy in places.

If you want an eagle’s eye view of the surrounding valleys, this is place to go.
You can see this cairn off the A685 between Kirkby Stephen and Tebay. When you get to the top of Ash Fell – the big hill outside of Kirkby – look out towards the north. I’ve been driving past here virtually every day for years and meaning to stop and have a look...so I’m glad I finally did. Theres a handy place to pull off the road next to a gate onto the moor towards the cairn. Then maybe a 10 minute walk to the cairn. The views are absolutely fantastic. I hope someone goes up with a panoramic camera and posts some pics here.
Spotted all sorts of places – Gamelands clearly seen with binoculars, and im pretty sure you could see long meg herself from up here if you had enough magnification. My advice – dont drive past – Stop !

I was last here in summer when it was covered with bracken and seeing it today without the ground cover was another thing all together.
The raised ring of the circle was easy to see. Within the circle all the stones have been cleared except for the impressive central limestone block, and the few stones securing the post which marks the circle. My friend complained a bit about the post being inside the circle rather than adjacent to it, but then he’s never been here before and couldn’t quite get just how impossible this is to see in summer. At least then you can stand next to the post and know you’re in it even if you can’t see it.
Today the only vegetation was lush green moss, so tempting to lie down on, and despite the howling wind a very restful atmosphere prevailed. We would have fallen asleep if it hadnt started to rain.
We walked here from Shapbeck – a very satisfying walk past some interesting lumps bumps and groves of trees, and also much gentler than coming up from the Bampton side

Took my dry stone waller friend up here the other day and he pronounced the ‘intact chamber’ to be a modern grouse butt. Seeing there is a whole sweep of grouse butts on the slopes around the cairn and the stones of the ‘chamber’ look relatively recently placed I was convinced. Likewise the surrounding wall – all recent. But dont let that detract from the site – it’s awesome !

From looking at the other field notes I’d say go in winter if you can. We went there today for the first time. I was primed with expectations of a small ruinous and very vague circle, made more confusing by clearance stones.
So I was surprised and impressed to find a very obvious double circle very much in the style of Oddendale and Gunnar Keld. Smaller though – estimate about 60 foot diameter. The clearance stones pile is between the outer and inner rings and when the undergrowth is this low it doesn’t confuse things at all.
Despite the proximity of the motorway, quarry and trial bike track there was a very definite sense of place there today. To me it felt very much an important part of the greater shap landscape.
Another advantage of a winter visit is the ease of finding bits of flint and chert in the bare ploughed field !

Standing on the edge of the steep drop into Potts Valley, this site is an interesting place to speculate about possible higher water levels and long disappeared tarns. “Wath” is from the Viking for ford, although there’s only a little stream now.
Expansive views towards the Lakes and the Pennines take in Sunbiggin and Rayseat.
450m NE of Mazon Wath – a short walk from the road.

I approached from the south, parked up in the village next to the pool and came up the track between the houses. From Tree Hugger’s pictures (from the north) I reckon I picked the best approach. So although there’s not a lot to see up on the fort, the approach was pretty impressive and I really liked the feel of this place. Very spacious. Fantastic views. Buzzards and plenty of sheep.