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Cross Fell Summit

Cross Fell Summit

Highlight • Natural Monument

Cross Fell Summit

Hiking

5.0

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Mountain biking

5.0

(3)

Running

5.0

(1)

Hiking Cross Fell, the highest mountain in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a fantastic expedition for multiple reasons. With its summit standing at 2,930 feet (893 m), this vast, bulky mountain is the high point of an extensive ridge system along with its neighbours, allowing you to hike from summit to summit without much descent in between.

On a clear day, standing atop Cross Fell makes you feel as though you’re on the brink of something huge, as the land drops away across the verdant Vale of Eden and the enticing peaks of the Lake District puncture the horizon. The hike up has no technical sections and is brilliant for family walks although the terrain can get rough with boggy ground.

Lumbering mountainsides and Lakeland views

Hike up Cross Fell by itself or add in any one of the myriad summits, trails and valleys in its immediate surroundings. You can approach the summit from the north west or south east and choose short or longer routes depending on your aims. With feature names like Middle Tongue, the steep Wildboar Scar and the wonderfully-named Grumply Hill, hiking Cross Fell offers plenty of areas of interest.

At the summit you’ll find the impressive stone shelter, an ideal spot for a bite to eat and to crack open the thermal flask. Look west to discover Lakeland’s Blencathra squatting on the horizon and east to see the rolling green hills and mountains of the North Pennines.

Cross Fell is a fantastic objective for hillwalkers and doesn’t present too many challenges in good weather. Boggy ground and mud are common though, while the Helm Wind can cause havoc on the south western slope. Winter attempts can be magical with a dusting of snow but take care should conditions turn dangerous with high winds and ice.

Find accommodation and food in Alton, Penrith, Appleby-in-Westmorland or the villages at the bottom of Cross Fell’s western slopes. If you want a wilder night, stay at the Greg’s Hut bothy, just north of Cross Fell on the slopes of Skirwith Fell.

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

North Pennines National Landscape

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Location: Culgaith, Eden, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Tips

Dan Hobson

May 23, 2019

Hiking

At an altitude of 2,930 feet (893 m), Cross Fell is the highest point in the Pennines. From the summit, you are afforded far-reaching views of the Lake District, the west coast and also the east coast. On a clear day, the southern uplands of Scotland and the Cheviots can also be seen.

Explorer: Future & The Past

December 25, 2018

Hiking

Make sure you have a komoot and there is plenty of battery left on your phone as it gets tricky in the fog.

David Howells

July 17, 2024

Hiking

A beautiful hill to hike and a glorious summit to have a break on. It has a wide plateaued top with a number of impressive stone cairns, as well as a trig point and a great dry stone cross shelter. I hiked the Kirkland loop, and this was a particularly nice loop to do. There is not that much of a view from the summit itself because it is so big and flat, but the views to and from it are really nice, in particular over towards Little Dun Fell.

Nearby routes

Best routes near Cross Fell Summit

4.6

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hikers

#1.

Cross Fell and Greg's Hut Bothy loop from Garrigill — North Pennines

24.2km

06:59

590m

Embark on a challenging 15.1-mile (24.2 km) hike through the remote North Pennines, gaining 1945 feet (593 metres) of elevation to reach England's highest fell outside the Lake District. This difficult loop from Garrigill takes you across heather-clad grouse moors and past fascinating disused mine workings, offering a true wilderness experience. Expect to spend around 6 hours and 58 minutes exploring this wild landscape, with far-reaching panoramic views from the summit of Cross Fell on a clear day.

Planning your visit requires good fitness and careful navigation, especially on the vast and often misty Cross Fell summit plateau. The terrain includes rugged paths and can be boggy in places, so come prepared for changeable weather and wet underfoot conditions. While the route is well-cairned in sections, the exposed nature of the area means you should always be ready for sudden shifts in conditions.

This route is notable for incorporating sections of the Pennine Way and leading to Greg's Hut Bothy, England's highest bothy at 2,357 feet (718 metres), which serves as a vital shelter. The area's rich history of lead mining is evident in the numerous capped shafts and shake holes you will encounter. Reaching the summit of Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines, is a significant achievement that sets this trail apart.

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Hard

3.0

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#2.

Cross Fell loop on the Pennine Way from Dufton

32.0km

09:31

930m

Hike the challenging 19.9-mile Cross Fell loop from Dufton, gaining 3050 feet for panoramic views in the North Pennines.

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4.8

(18)

136

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