Less popular peaks
The summits that are unlikely to win any popularity contests can be the best places to seek peace. Hanna Lindon rounds up the peaks that punch above their reputation – and those you may want to reconsider
IN BRITAIN’S small but brilliant constellation of mountain summits, a few stars shine brighter than all the rest. It’s understandable that hillwalkers tend to fixate on these big names – after all, they usually deliver the highest, spikiest and most dramatic days out. But what about the peaks that don’t dominate outdoors headlines? Some have been sidelined in favour of more famous neighbours.
Others are too remote or inaccessible to attract much attention. And there’s a third category as well – mountains that have been stigmatised as boring, disappointingly straightforward or just so over-exposed that their charms are best left to the Insta-hordes.
That doesn’t seem quite fair. Okay, you can have a spectacular day out scrambling the CMD Arête or hopping rock to rock up Tryfan. But some of the most sublime experiences in the hills arise from taking the route less travelled, whether that’s exploring a summit that barely anyone has heard of or taking a new approach to a popular classic.
Whilst the peaks here might not dazzle you with their stellar reputations, they all afford opportunities to ditch the crowds and enjoy the quieter kind of adventure. Perhaps it’s time that you put your preconceptions aside and give them a chance. They might just surprise you...
CROSS FELL, PENNINES
START/FINISH: Kirkland car park (NY650325)
Distance: 14km/8.5 miles
Ascent: 690m/2260ft
Duration: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: 6/10
You might think Cross Fell has the credentials of amountain superstar. It’s the highest peak in the Pennines (893m) and the highest point in England outside the Lake District. The scattered summit. Then there are the views: the Lakes in one direction, the east coast in the other, with the Southern Uplands and Cheviots rising to the north.
Despite these natural advantages, Cross Fell doesn’t perhaps because of its long, lazy silhouette. It’s more plateau than peak, sprawling smoothly across the Eden sky. From adistance, it just doesn’t look quite as appealing as some of its nearest neighbours. Blencathra is spinier.
Amongst Pennine Way walkers, Cross Fell also has a pretty fearsome reputation. It’s one of the most gruelling, in a 30km+ tramp from Dufton to Alston. There’s little known for chilly, highly changeable conditions. The winds that sweep off its summit once earned it the nickname of ‘Fiend’s Fell’, and snow decks the top of it for an average Pennines have been dubbed ‘England�
