Surrender Ground gathering pen

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Historical Environment Record No:
MYD36567
Parish:
Reeth, Fremington & Healaugh
OS Grid Reference:
NY973022
Dale:
Swaledale
Related to:

Timeline

Themes

Description

Surrender Ground gathering pen from the air MYD36567 (c) YDNPA, 2023

Surrender Ground gathering pen from the air MYD36567 (c) YDNPA, 2023

A large stone walled gathering pen can be seen on the communal grazing land at Surrender Ground, Reeth High Moor. Farmers share the moorland here, buying ‘stints’ or ‘gates’ that allow them to graze a certain number of sheep or cattle each year. At shearing and other times, they all work together to gather in the sheep before separating them out into individual flocks. The series of smaller enclosures within the pen allows this separation to take place.

Source:

White, Robert (2002) The Yorkshire Dales. A Landscape Through Time. Ilkley: Great Northern Books

Location

From Feetham on the B6270 take the minor road north signposted Langthwaite, (in Arkengarthdale). After about 1.6km ignore the right turn. This is followed shortly by a bend, a cattle grid and and a bridge. Continue up the hill and at about the summit there is metalled track on the left signposted "Bridle Way Only". There is limited roadside parking. Walk about 2 miles along this track and the Gathering Pen is a walled enclosure on the right of the track divided into smaller pens.

Public Transport Details

Nearest town/village: Langthwaite or Feetham. Call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 to plan your journey. After the welcome message key in 885 for North Yorkshire information.

Accessibility

Track is stony and rough.