Fat Betty - also known as the White Cross is a standing stone believed to date back to the Norman period this landmark can be found at the boundary between Castleton and Rosedale - great walking to be found in this area. On approaching the standing stone it is a cross shape however on closer inspection you will see that the head of the cross is indeed an ancient wheelhead and could be one of the only two known in North Yorkshire.Why is it called Fat Betty? There are 2 myths circulating as to the naming of this monument:
There was a nun living at the Cistercian Abbey - Rosedale - called Sister Elizabeth, who was, presumably on the rotund side, the nuns at that time used to wear a habit made from undyed sheep's wool and were often referred to as 'white ladies' and the other myth is that a Farmer and his wife, called Betty,travelling back from Market on a dark, foggy night, Betty fell from their horse and cart, when the farmer reached home and discovered his loss, he retraced his steps to find her but all he found of his wife was a squat shaped stone.
Highly mysterious! but how on earth did the Farmer or his wife not realise that one or the other had dropped off the wagon............... it may have something to do with the 'fallen off the wagon' that we associate with today?
Why not make your base one of the Valley View Farm Cottages.
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