Cross Fell

Cross Fell stands at the heart of the Pennines in northern England, the highest point outside the Lake District. It rises above the Eden Valley with steep slopes on one side and gentler drops on the other. The summit is a broad stony plateau marked by a cross-shaped dry-stone shelter. From here the eye travels across the Eden Valley to the Lake District peaks on clear days. To the north the view stretches over the Solway Firth to the hills of southern Scotland. The fell is known for fierce winds and thick hill fog that can make the summit dangerous. Local people once called it ‘Fiends Fell’ and believed evil spirits lived there. St Augustine of Canterbury is said to have blessed the hill during his travels, giving it the name Cross Fell. The Helm Wind, a shrieking gale, is a well-known feature of the area. Greg’s Hut, the highest bothy in England, sits on the northern slope at 700 metres and offers shelter to walkers. The upper slopes are made of mudstone, sandstone and siltstone, while lower ground shows limestone layers. Frost has shattered the rock into scree slopes on the western face. Snow often lingers in gullies until late spring and sometimes appears even in June. Rare alpine plants such as Starry Saxifrage grow on the thin soils, and the area is protected as a Special Area of Conservation. The fell dominates the skyline along the A66 and can be seen from high points across northern England and even from Snowdonia in Wales.