Breckon Howe looking north
This distinctive barrow
is easy enough to get to, park just to the west of the cattle grid on the open
road that leads from the A169 to Goathland and follow the line of the fence north
before cutting across to the barrow. The barrow itself stands on the highest point
of this part of the moor with a spot height of 297 metres and the land slopes
away gently on all sides. It is about 2-3 metres tall but the top has been badly
damaged, probably during antiquarian excavations in the 19th century or looting
at an earlier time - it also now has a boundary stone on top of it. There are
several medium sized boulders scattered around close by that could have formed
part of the barrow, a couple of rocks just to the east looked like they may have
been part of a kerb. The barrow lies just to the southwest of Pen Howe and north
of Sil Howe and forms part of a chain consisting of Flat
Howes, Pen Howes, Breckon Howe, Sil
Howe, Flass Brow, Robbed
Howe, Foster Howes, Ann
Howe, Louven Howe, Lilla
Howe, High Woof Howe and Low
Woof Howe. It is thought that these barrows could have formed a Bronze
Age territorial boundary line between different areas of the moor.
