North Pennines



The North pennines contain the highest land within the Pennine range and the main area is characterised by a sharp western slope facing the Eden valley topped by Cross Fell bounding a truly vast area of desolate moorland from which several valleys such as Weardale and Teesdale run in an easterly direction.

Many of the more notable features within the North Pennines are caused by the volcanic outcrops of the Whin Sill.

Notable hills within the North Pennines apart from Cross Fell and it's immediate neighbours include Nine Standards Rigg, Wild Boar Fell, High Seat, and Mickle Fell - the highest hill in Yorkshire until it moved counties. Mickle fell however is contained within the danger area of a military firing range making access somewhat problematic.

Wild Boar Fell and High Seat form part of the sides of Mallestrang - a wild valley which connects Wensleydale with the vale of Eden. The walk down this valley from Kirkby Stephen to Hawes along Lady Annes highway is a fully recommendable (one way) day trip.

It is interesting to note that despite being being several kilometeres apart High Seat can be considered to be subsidary top of Great Shunner fell described within the Wensleydale section.

For some reason the area around Mallestrang and most famously Nine Standards Rigg is marked by numerous old, large cairns visible from some distance away. It is not clear why these were built.

The title picture shows the north pennines as seen from Great Shunner Fell in Wensleydale. The snow covered escarpment in the distance is the edge of cross fell.