Cockan Cross, Rudland Rigg, Farndale
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Approaching Cockan Cross from the quarry road
Cockan Cross, Rudland Rigg, Coast to Coast
Cockan Cross is positioned about 30m west of the ridge top path on Rudland Rigg. It is only 50 yards north of the Rigg's 409m summit. 600m to the south east is the long Fox Hole Crag and Fox Hole Cave. The Crag is well known to climbers. Both the Crag and the Cross are easily obtained either by parking in Farndale where there is a path up from Wether Hill Farm, or by parking in Bransdale and taking the path up from Cow Sike Farm. This path is an up and over path between the two valleys. It intersects with the ridge top walk.
The Cross is easiest found by finding the nearby quarry track on the west of the path. There is a bridle path opposite the quarry track that leads to Spout House in the Farndale Valley. After about 20m from the start of the quarry track the Cross can be seen tucked into the heather further downhill. Cockan Cross is about about 1 mile south of the Cammon Stone, on the same track, and about 2.5 miles south of Bloworth Crossing, again on the same track.
Cockan Cross Rudland Rigg
Cocklan Cross is a Scheduled Monument but is broken. The shaft of the Cross is soundly affixed in a chock stone socket, and the remains of the cross lay on the ground to its side. The head of the Cross is missing. It is thought to date to the late Anglo-Saxon period, but the date remains in doubt due to the minimal decoration of the Cross, which would be expected to be less vestigial for this period. Looking at the south side the fallen shaft is on the left. This side contraiins the inscription "Farndale".
Cockan Stone East Side
The Cockan Stone is approached from the east, and its east face is very interesting, as it contains the words "Stoxl Rode" meaning Stokesley. Obviously that side of the Stone is the way to Stokesley.
Close up of East Side of Cockan Cross. Images show the original and a copy with Enhanced Inscription
West and South Sides
The West Side of Cockan Cross contains the words "Kirby Rode". The fact that the Cross's sides are used to show directions is confirmation that such Standing Stones are often used for a doubling up of uses.
North and West Sides
The west side contains the word "Bransdale" Looking beyond the Stone is Upper Bransdale and the woods around Cockayne.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
