Some Mountains, Hills and Summits of Great Britain

These pages feature some of the many mountains, hills, fells, summits and high points in Britain. The criteria for inclusion are that (1) I've climbed the hill in question, and (2) that I've taken a photo at the summit. Wherever possible there is also a picture of the hill from a neighbouring summit or adjacent valley, or a picture of the view from the top.

See the home page for an explanation of the status terms (Munro, Corbett, Marilyn, Hewitt, et al).

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Allen Crags

Location: Lake District, Southern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 236085
Height: 2575 ft (785 m)
Status: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall

Notes: Although it's one of the principal summits of the Scafell massif, Allen Crags is curiously unregarded, often described as "that one you have to climb before you get to Glaramara". This lack of fame is undeserved, for Allen Crags is really in the heart of things. It stands immediately north of the path crossroads of Esk Hause, and commands glorious views of Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, the Gables and the Langdale Pikes, together with more distant views of Borrowdale and its surrounding fells. Its most obvious route of ascent is from Seathwaite via Grains Gill, and is usually climbed together with Glaramara, further north along the same ridge.


Allermuir Hill

Location: The Pentlands
Grid Ref: NT 227661
Height: 1617 ft (493 m)
Status: Marilyn, Yeaman

Notes: A hill situated towards the northeastern tip of the Pentlands, Allermuir Hill enjoys a superb view over the city of Edinburgh immediately to the north. It's about a mile west of Caerketton Hill, easily accessible from the Hillend dry ski slope. Several paths radiate from the summit and Allermuir can be visited as part of an extended trek across the northern Pentlands.



Aonach air Chrith

Location: Scottish Highlands, Kintail
Grid Ref: NH 051083
Height: 3350 ft (1021 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes:Aonach air Chrith is the third and highest Munro of the South Glenshiel ridge (if you're traversing from the east to the west, as most guidebooks would have you do). It can be reached in less than an hour from Druim Shionnach, the previous summit on the ridge. The hill has splendid views down into Glen Shiel, westwards to the Five Sisters, southwards to the peaks around Loch Quoich and northwards to the many mountains bordering Kintail and Affric. The west ridge onwards to Maol Chinn Dearg falls in a steep gradient to the intervening col and the descent requires care, though it is not hazardous.



Aonach Beag

Location: Scottish Highlands, Lochaber
Grid Ref: NN 197715
Height: 4049 ft (1234 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes: Britain's seventh highest mountain. The name means "little ridge". Aonach Beag lays immediately south of Aonach Mor (great ridge) and despite the name it is actually higher. The names are believed to refer to the relative bulk of the two summits rather than their respective elevations. The classic route to Aonach Beag is from Steall, in Glen Nevis to the southwest, but a far easier route is from the Nevis Range gondola to the north, via Aonach Mor. There is a very simple ridgewalk between the two. Aonach Beag has a much rockier summit than Aonach Mor but there is still more vegetation growing here than on any comparable height in the UK. Views are extensive, encompassing much of the Western highlands, with the Mamores, Grey Corries and Glencoe ranges well seen. Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis lay immediately to the west.


Aonach Mor

Location: Scottish Highlands, Lochaber
Grid Ref: NN 193729
Height: 4006ft (1221 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo

Notes: The eighth highest mountain in the UK and one of the select few to rise above 4000 ft, Aonach Mor (The Great Ridge) is more characteristic of a Pennine fell than one of the great Scottish mountains. It is distinctly odd to find grass growing and sheep grazing at 4000 ft, though possibly this is because Ben Nevis, immediately to the west, acts as a wind shelter. The top of Aonach Mor is an elongated flat plateau from which the mountain's most exciting features - the dramatic cliffs on the east and west flanks - are hidden. It can be climbed in about 90 minutes from the top of Britain's only cabin lift (Nevis Range), which rises to 2000 ft on the northern slopes; from there a stroll to the western viewpoint followed by a steady climb up the western lip of the mountain will get you to the summit. A path is gradually beginning to appear.



Arant Haw

Location: Howgill Fells
Grid Ref: SD 662946
Height: 1985 ft (605 m)
Status: Dewey

Notes: Arant Haw is a southern outlier of Calders, in the Howgill Fells near Sedbergh. It can easily be mistaken for Calders itself on the approach from the southwest as, curiously, it looks insignificant on the 1:25000 maps. A rounded, grassy fell, it has little intrinsic interest. It can be climbed in an hour from Sedbergh by the Settlebeck Gill track. The view consists mainly of other gently rolling fells, notably Calders to the northeast, while some of the Lakeland fells can be seen to the far northwest and the main Pennine ranges to the east.


Arnside Knott

Location: Morecambe Bay, Cumbria
Grid Ref: SD 456774
Height: 522 ft (159 m)
Status: Marilyn

Notes: Situated just outside the southeastern edge of the Lake District and overlooking the Kent estuary from the east, Arnside Knott has the distinction of being England's lowest Marilyn. Its status was only recently discovered and it qualifies by only a whisker. A wholly straightforward and largely effortless ascent from the vilage of Arnside, the pleasant heathland summit has views along the northern shore of Morecambe Bay towards Grange, and into the southeastern corner of the Lakes.

Arthur's Pike
Arthur's Pike

Location: Lake District, Far Eastern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 461207
Height: 1749 ft (533 m)
Status:  Wainwright

Notes: Arthur's Pike is situated to the east of the northern leg of Ullswater. It is properly just a top of Loadpot Hill though lays some distance from its parent across a rather bleak and featureless stretch of grass moorland. The bulk of Loadpot Hill limits the panorama to the east and southeast but Ullswater is well presented, and Penrith is visible to the northeast with the Cross Fell group beyond. The standard ascent is from Pooley Bridge, initially along the Moor Divock track then part of the old High Street Roman road. A ridge route from Loadpot Hill is not recommended except in fine, settled weather.


Arthur's Seat

Location: Edinburgh
Grid Ref: NT 275729
Height: 822 ft (251 m)
Status:  Marilyn

Notes: There are very few capital cities in the world that can boast extinct volcanoes barely a mile from their centres. Edinburgh has two. The greater of these is Arthur's Seat and is part of Holyrood Park, the outer grounds of the royal palace. Arthur's Seat is ringed on the city side by Salisbury Crags, a sill of volcanic rock. A road goes right around the hill and the summit is most easily ascended from the road's highest point on the east side, from where a broad grassy rake goes most of the way to the top. The views are glorious, ecompassing the city, the Firth of Forth, the Pentlands, Fife and the Ochils, as well as Ben Lomond and other mountains on the edge of the Highlands.



Atkinson Pike

Location: Lake District, Northern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 324282
Height: 2772 ft (845 m)
Status: Nuttall

Notes: The north top of Blencathra, in the north of the Lake District. If you recognise Blencathra by its popular but incorrect name of Saddleback, then Atkinson Pike is the rear end of the saddle. It's a fearsome looking pyramid when seen from the outliers of Bannerdale Crags or Bowscale Fell, buttresed to the left by Sharp Edge and to the right by Foule Crag. Wainwright does not refer to the summit by name. Most approaches will be from Blencathra itself, from which it's but a ten minute stroll across the grassy col. There are two cairns, of which the northern one appears to be a shade higher. The best views are those of Skiddaw and across the vale of Eden to the east.



Auchnafree Hill

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 808308
Height: 2589 ft (789 m)
Status:  Corbett, Marilyn

Notes: Auchnafree Hill stands on the opposite side of Glen Turrett from Ben Chonzie, about 7 miles northwest of Crieff. The most straightforward access is from the Loch Turrett dam, where either of two tracks will get you to NN808300, from where a path (sketchy in parts) rises to the summit cairn. There's also a track up the north side of the hill, from Larichfraskhan in Glen Almond. Don't attempt to cross the summit plateau from Choinneachain Hill; the path shown on the 1:25000 map doesn't exist and the col is rent with peat hags that make progress extremely tedious. The view is not disimilar to that of neigyhbouring Ben Chonzie; the highlight is undoubtedly the view of the Ben Lawers group to the northwest.

Aughertree Fell
Aughertree Fell (Green How)

Location: Lake District, Northern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 258374
Height: 1053 ft (321 m)
Status: Wainwright Outlying Fell, Clement

Notes: This fell is s small area of unimproved moorland situated imediately to the east of the village of Uldale, nestling in the northwestern foothills of the Lake District. It's an undistinguished hill and is easily reached from the Uldale moor road by a couple of rough vehicle tracks. The view features the "Back o'Skiddaw" fells, Binsey and Skiddaw itself, and the Cumbrian coastal plain.


Bache Hill

Location: New Radnor Forest, Powys
Grid Ref: SO 213636
Height: 2001 ft (610 m)
Status: Hewitt, Nuttall

Notes: Bache Hill is a lonely swelling of moorland in the New Radnor Forest. A track uo from New Radnor village rises over the southern slopes of the hill; walk past it to the east to gain the east ridge path up to the trig point. It is, in truth, an unlovely place and is a summit for list tickers and trig pillar collectors only. The view encompasses plenty of rolling hill country around the southern arc, and across the border into rural Herefordshire.


Bannerdale Crags

Location: Lake District, Northern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 335290
Height: 2241 ft (683 m)
Status: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall

Notes: Part of the Blencathra massif in the northern part of the Lake District, Bannerdale Crags is a grassy top that falls away to the northeast in an impressive series of cliffs. These are only seen from the eastern approach, from Mungrisedale village via Bannerdale (which is probably the easiest approach). On the other side the fell slopes down to the infant Glenderamackin river, across which Blencathra itself looks daunting. The cairn (pictured) is not actually at the highest point, which is some 100 metres to the west and is unmarked. The moors to the rear of Skiddaw are well seen, though the bulk of Blencathra shuts out the view of most of the main Lakeland fells.



Bardon Hill

Location: Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire
Grid Ref: SK 459131
Height: 912 ft (278 m)
Status: Marilyn, County Top (Leicestershire)

Notes: Bardon Hill is the highest point of Charnwood Forest, a hilly area in northwest Leicestershire composed of ancient volcanic outcrops. The wooded top lays within the boundaries of Bardon Hill Quarry and the whole eastern side of the hill has been quarried away. Access is easy, via a series of footpaths leading up from the Fying Horse roundabout on the A50, just a mile away. Views are extensive and include Leicester, Coalville, Castle Donnington, and Cannock Chase out to the west.

Base Brown

Location: Lake District, Western Fells
Grid Ref: NY 225114
Height: 2119 ft (646 m)
Status: Wainwright, Nuttall, Hewitt

Notes: Base Brown is an outlier of Great Gable and is often overlooked, sitting by itself out on a limb from the main Gable - Brandreth ridge. It overlooks Seathwaite and Stockley Bridge and can be climbed from the former by way of Gillercombe. For those already up on the ridges it's a short and easy stroll from Green Gable. With high fells closing in the view in most directions the best panorama is to the north and northeast over Borrowdale.



Baystones (Wansfell)

Location: Lake District, Far Eastern Fells
Grid Ref: NY 403051
Height: 1597 ft (487 m)
Status: Wainwright, Clement, sub-Marilyn

Notes: Many walkers climb Wansfell Pike, a kilometre to the southeast, but relatively few walk along the ridge to Baystones (which, confusingly, Wainwright names as Wansfell). Baystones is the true summit of Wansfell and is a little higher. It's unfortunate that its situation is inferior to that of its smaller brother, either as a viewpoint or as a place to be. It is almost always climbed from Ambleside by way of Wansfell Pike and there are no paths to or from the summit in any other direction. In only one respect does Baystones score over Wansfell Pike and that's the view northwards towards Kirkstone Pass, with Red Screes and Stony Cove Pike crowding in from either side.

Beacon Batch
Beacon Batch

Location: The Mendips, Somerset
Grid Ref: ST 484572
Height: 1066 ft (325 m)
Status: Marilyn, Clement

Notes:Beacon Batch is the highest point of the Mendips. A shallow heathland dome, it is easily ascended from either the Chew valley to the north or Cheddar to the south. The fairly flat nature of the summit area provides no foreground interest but the far panorama is intesresting and extensive, and ranges around the Somerset Levels and across the Bristol channel to south Wales. The Brecon Beacons would be visible on the clearest days. The town of Weston Super Mare is very prominent to the north west.


Beinn Alligin (Sgurr Mhor)

Location: Scottish Highlands, Torridon
Grid Ref: NG 865612
Height: 3235 ft (986 m)
Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes: Beinn Alligin, the Jewel Mountain, is one of the three superb mountains that stand to the north of Loch Torridon in Wester Ross. Of the three, Alligin is the easiest to climb, there being a decent path from the Coire Mhic Nobuill car park (although it's unpleasanly steep in parts). Sgurr Mhor is the principal summit of the mountain, a shapely peak rent by the great vertical gash known as the Eag Dubh (Black Notch). The ridge of the mountain is quite spectacular, and features the famous Horns of Alligin to the northeast of the main peak. The ridge between Sgurr Mhor and the southern top of Tom na Gruagaich is airy but has no difficulties save one awkward rockstep that can be bypassed. The Horns require some scrambling but do not have to be climbed if you don't like the look of them. Views from the top are awesome, taking in the other Torridon hill such as Liathach, Beinn Eighe, Baosbheinn and Beinn Dearg, as well as the vast sweep of Wester Ross and the west coast with Skye beyond. The summit picture shows the view to the east; the Horns in front, Beinn Dearg beyond, and Beinn Eighe behind Dearg.

Photo by Graham Jackson.


Beinn Dearg

Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire
Grid Ref: NN 852777
Height: 3307 ft (1008 m)
Status:  Munro, Murdo, Marilyn

Notes: Pertshire's Beinn Dearg is a somewhat shy Munro, laying deep within the wild country eastwards of Drumochter. The best access is from Blair Atholl, from where it's a ten mile walk to the top with tracks and paths all the way. The actual ascent path is one of the most benign and easily graded in the district. The massive, stony summit carries a wind shelter (pictured). No roads, towns or villages can be seen from the top, just a magnificent 360-degree panorama of mountains in which the Cairngorms, the Mounth, the Glen Tilt hills, the Drumochter hills and the Ben Lawers group are all prominent.

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This page last updated 31st May 2011