Geograph - photograph every grid square

An adjacent interpretation board states that, "For centuries cattle had been driven down to pasture by the Ouse Burn from the fields above the valley. The cutting below (seen here) follows the line of the old cattle track which cut through Lord Armstrong's estate". The board goes on to say that when Lord Armstrong acquired the land he had this deeper channel dug so that the cattle could follow the old track and be kept away from visitors and their carriages which passed this way. However, this explanation has been called into question, suggesting that the cutting was designed for people and not cattle. For further information see Link. Whatever the explanation this cutting is an interesting relic from the past.