Summits of Great Britain

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, Marylin, Hewitt, et al).

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	Ben Nevis Location: Scottish Highlands, Lochaber Grid Ref: NN 166712 Height: 4408 ft (1344 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn, County Top (Inverness-shire), Country Top (Scotland, Great Britain) Notes: Number One, the Roof of Britain, the highest point of our nation - and never was a summit so cluttered. The airy top was once home to a weather station and a very rudimentary hotel, though nowadays it boasts no more than a cairn, a thrown-together shelter and half a ton of litter. As the highest point in Britain it attracts a great many visitors, some of them unfortunately ill shod and unprepared for the conditions. There is an excellent stony track all the way up, from Achintee Farm just outside Fort William. The summit dome is rough and bouldery, devoid of vegetation, and snowbound for much of the year. The views, however, are glorious and extend over pretty much all the Highlands. The name (properly Beinn Nibheis) is obscure and is thought to have been imported into Gaelic from some even older language.

	Ben Vrackie Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire Grid Ref: NN 951632 Height: 2759 ft (841 m) Status: Corbett, Marylin Notes: Ben Vrackie is one of the most accessible mountains in this corner of the Highlands, situated within three miles of the town of Pitlochry. There is a good path all the way, initially along residential roads and then a farm driveway and a woodland path. The view from the summit is excellent, encompassing the Ben Lawers group, Schiehallion, the Glen Tilt hills, the Mounth and the Ochils. The name is possibly a corruption of Beinn Bhreac ("speckled mountain").

	Bessyboot Location: Lake District, Southern Fells Grid Ref: NY 256117 Height: 2008 ft (612 m) Status: Wainwright Notes: Wainwright gives the quaintly named top of Bessyboot as the summit of Rosthwaite Fell, though the official summit of the latter is a few hundred metres away, just east of Tarn at Leaves. The fell overlooks upper Borrowdale and is in effect the northeasternmost outlier of Scafell Pike. It can be combined with Allen Crags and Glaramara in a ridgewalk but the intervening country is very rough, and Bessyboot is more normally climbed on its own. For a relatively minor fell it is unusually difficult to ascend. The standard route via Stanger Gill from Stonethwaite is steep and unpleasant, and I would recommend a pathless but much easier ascent by the grassy western slopes from Comb Gill and the Glaramara path. Bessyboot's panorama includes much of the Scafell, Gable, High Raise, Grasmoor, High Stile and Dale Head groups, and of course Skiddaw can be seen beyond Derwentwater.

	Birkhouse Moor Location: Lake District, Eastern Fells Grid Ref: NY 363159 Height: 2365 ft (718 m) Status: Wainwright, Nuttall Notes: Striding Edge, the famous arete that forms one of Helvellyn's eastern ridges, broadens out at its eastern end to form the grassy plateau of Birkhouse Moor. Most walkers in this area are heading for Helvellyn and its ridges, and relatively few think to turn off and head for this grassy top as a worthwhile diversion. Standing as it does between the valleys of Glenridding and Patterdale, Birkhouse enjoys a splendid view of Ullswater, Helvellyn and its neighbours, and many of the Far Eastern fells. On clear days the northern Pennines are also prominent. Birkhouse is easily reached from any of the standard routes to Striding Edge, and I would recommend the Mires Beck path from Glenridding village.

	Black Down Location: South Downs, West Sussex Grid Ref: SU 919296 Height: 919 ft (280 m) Status: Marilyn, County Top (West Sussex) Notes: This trig pillar presumably once stood on open heath but nowadays it is surrounded by forest. It marks the topmost point of an area of heathland a couple of miles southeast of Haslemere, on the Surrey / West Sussex / Hampshire border. The summit itself lacks interest but Black Down as a whole is splendid walking country, featuring a generous networks of paths, cycle tracks and viewpoints. A good portion of the South Downs, from Ditchling Beacon to Butser Hill, is visible from the viewpoint about 600m south of the trig point.

	Black Fell Location: Lake District, Southern Fells Grid Ref: NY 340015 Height: 1059 ft (323 m) Status: Wainwright, Clement Notes: Black Fell stands roughly a mile north of Tarn Hows, near Coniston. Like many of the lower Lakeland summits it makes up in ruggedness what it lacks in height and is surprisingly rocky. The most direct ascent is a simple stroll by a path from the lane between the fell and Tarn Hows. As Black fell is the first high ground west of Windermere the views around the eastern and southern arcs are extensive, while a huge panorama of Lakeland summits fills the views to the north and west.

	Black Mountain Location: Black Mountains Grid Ref: SO 255350 Height: 2306 ft (703 m) Status: Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall, County Top (Herefordshire) Notes: It's not black and it isn't a mountain, but it is the highest point on the England/Wales border. A long heathland ridge, it is traversed by the Offa's Dyke long distance path. The summit is unmarked, in fact it's pretty nearly impossible to tell when you're at the highest point as the gradients along the ridgetop are imperceptible. A road immediately to the west (Hay-on-Wye to Capel-y-Ffin) allows access to the ridge at a number of points and non-drivers can take advantage of the Sunday bus from Hay. The view mainly encompasses similar ridges to the left and right, with other summits of the Black Mountain range predominating. For better views walk a mile north to Hay Bluff.

	Black Mountain (South Top) Location: Black Mountains Grid Ref: SO 266322 Height: 2090 ft (637 m) Status: Nuttall Notes: Black Mountain's south top is very similar to its parent fell except that the summit is actually obvious, and that there's a view across part of rural Herefordshire towards the Malvern Hills. It can be climbed in roughly an hour from Capel-y-Ffin and no doubt all who climb it will go on to Black Mountain itself and then Hay Bluff.

	Blackstone Edge Location: South Pennines Grid Ref: SD 972164 Height: 1549 ft (472 m) Status: none Notes: The main watershed of Britain rises to this craggy height between Rochdale and Huddersfield in the narrowest part of the Pennines. Blackstone Edge is on the route of the Pennine Way and is a remarkable outcrop of gritstone overlooking Rochdale to the west. It is roughly midway between the A672 at Windy Hill and the A58 at the White House above Littleborough, and can easily be ascended from either in less than thirty minutes.

	Blea Rigg Location: Lake District, Central Fells Grid Ref: NY 301078 Height: 1775 ft (541 m) Status: Wainwright Notes: Blea Rigg is the greater part of a huge shoulder of upland that runs down from the Langdale Pikes to the southeast, terminating ultimately at Loughrigg. The most obvious feature of Blea Rigg is the daunting line of crags on its north slope, overlooking Easedale. The true summit is a matter of guesswork for the ridge contains a number of outcrops and tors. The one pictured here does not match Wainwright's drawing but does appear to be the highest point. Most easily climbed from Easedale Tarn by a path to the southwest. The panorama is confined by the huge bulk of High Raise and its satellites but it does give an excellent view of Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark, while the Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges are well seen to the east together with the Coniston group to the south.

	Bleaberry Fell Location: Lake District, Central Fells Grid Ref: NY 285195 Height: 1932 ft (590 m) Status: Wainwright Notes: Bleaberry Fell is the northernmost top of the ridge that stretches northwards from the Langdale Pikes between Derwentwater and Thirlmere. It is an excellent viewpoint for Keswick itself and also shows Skiddaw, Grizedale Pike and the Eel Grag group off to great advantage. The fell can be climbed from Keswick via Walla Crag in just over an hour. Walla Crag (to the north) and Falcon Crag (to the west) both have superb views over Derwentwater. The path southwards to High Seat and High Tove is rather boggy.

	Bleaklow Location: Peak District, Derbyshire Grid Ref: SK 092959 Height: 2077 ft (633 m) Status: Hewitt, Nuttall Notes: Bleaklow lays on the route of the Pennine Way and thus is blessed with well trodden and well maintained routes to its summit. Were this not the case it is doubtful whether Bleaklow would ever be visited other than by hardy list tickers, for it is a remote moorland top surrounded by exceptionally difficult terrain. Even with the assistance of the Pennine Way one does arrive at Bleaklow's cairn with a sense of accomplishment. Bleaklow lays at the centre of a broad and largely flat upthrust of peat moorland and hence there are no views, save of the equally inhospitable rises of Black Hill to the north and Kinder Scout to the south. The summit is one hour's climb from Snake Pass or one and a half hours from Longendale.

	Blease Fell Location: Lake District, Northern Fells Grid Ref: NY 312270 Height: 2638 ft (804 m) Status: none Notes: Blancathra's far west top. The summit is not really significant, except as Blencathra's best viewpoint for Keswick and Derwentwater. Rather it's the vast, convex grassy slope that descends to the Glenderaterra valley to the west that is well known, for it's this face that Blencathra presents to Keswick, and this face that a substantial majority of fellwalkers choose for their descent from the ridge back to Threlkeld. It's sheer tedium and is hell on the knees and calves, but everyone seems to agree that it would be far worse as an ascent. If you do climb Blencathra this way, Blease Fell summit will be a little piece of heaven.

	Blencathra (a.k.a. Saddleback) Location: Lake District, Northern Fells Grid Ref: NY 323277 Height: 2848 ft (868 m) Status: Wainwright, Marilyn, Hewitt, Nuttall Notes: Saddleback may be the popular name for this splendid fell, but Blencathra is its proper name and it's known as such to all serious fellwalkers. It's the eastern neighbour of Skiddaw in Lakeland's northern fells, and towers over the village of Threlkeld at its foot. From Clough Head (top picture) Blencathra is revealed as a ridge with several tops, each with a supporting buttress falling to the Keswick - Penrith gap below. The highest top is Hallsfell, at the eastern end of the ridge. Surprisingly, there is no trig pillar, just a simple cairn. The easiest way up is by the well-trodden path from Scales up the eastern shoulder of Scales Fell. The superb views take in most of Lakeland and the northern Pennines.

	Botley Hill Location: North Downs, Surrey Grid Ref: TQ 396553 Height: 875 ft (267 m) Status: Marilyn Notes: Boring name, boring hill. Botley Hill is the highest part of that section of the North Downs straddling the meeting point of London, Kent and Surrey (and as such is the nearest Marylin to London), but the summit itself is a disappointment. The top of the downs here is flat, and the highest point lays within a pasture grazed by sheep. A road runs right past the trig point, which is just the other side of the hedge (and, to the chagrin of purist summit baggers, is not actually at the highest point which is some thirty metres away within the pasture). There is no view. The surrounding countryside is very pleasant, however, and you could justify a visit to Botley Hill by walking a local section of the North Downs Way (which passes only a few hundred metres away) and taking in this "summit" as an afterthought.

	Bowscale Fell Location: Lake District, Northern Fells Grid Ref: NY 333305 Height: 2303 ft (702 m) Status: Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttall Notes: Bowscale Fell is a lonely summit standing northeast of Blencathra, its parent fell, in the north of the Lake District. It's a grassy dome tucked in between loops of the Calder and Glenderamackin rivers, and is probably best climbed from the path along Bannerdale from the village of Mungrisedale to the east. The most obvious features of the view are the vast "Back o' Skiddaw" wilderness to the northwest and the arresting sight of Blencathra just west of south. There's also a good view eastwards towards the northern Pennines on clear days.

	Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain Location: Scottish Highlands, Perthshire Grid Ref: NN 925724 Height: 3510 ft (1070 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marylin Notes: One of the Beinn a'Ghlo group, Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain is best ascended by first climbing Carn Liath (q.v.) and then following the ridge. There's a good path all the way though there is quite a substantial drop between the two summits. The view is dominated by Beinn a'Ghlo's principal top, Carn nan Gabhar, and its outlier, Airgiod Bheinn, filling the eastern arc. The Cairngorms are well displayed to the north, and the main feature eastwards is the Ben Lawers massif. A really fine climb.

	Bram Rigg Top Location: Howgill Fells Grid Ref: SD 668964 Height: 2205 ft (672 m) Status: Nuttall Notes: A minor top in the Howgills, midway between Calders and The Calf and off to the left of the main ridge path. There are paths to and from the little cairn, although none are shown on the map. The neighbouring hills dominate the scene to the north and south, with wild, empty valleys to the east and west. About ten minutes' walk from Calders.

	Bredon Hill Location: Vale of Evesham Grid Ref: SO 957402 Height: 981 ft (299 m) Status: Marilyn Notes: Bredon Hill lays alone within the Vale of Evesham, a broad, wooded hill covering an area of several square miles. It stands above the lovely village of Elmley Castle, about four miles west of Evesham, from where there is a track to the top. This ascent is exceptionally muddy but it does hide the best of the views until you reach the summit. The panorama is allegedly glorious, taking in the Cotswolds, the Malvern Hills, the Forest of Dean, Black Mountain and the whole of the vale of the Severn from Bristol to Birmingham - though on the day I climbed Bredon Hill in March 2005 a dense fog denied me any view whatsoever. The summit is a broad pasture ringed by a drystone wall and some Iron Age earthworks. There is a topograph set within a lone rock, while a couple of hundred metres to the south a squat brick tower (pictured) appears to occupy the highest point of the hill.

	Bush Howe Location: Howgill Fells Grid Ref: SD 659980 Height: 2044 ft (623 m) Status: Nuttall Notes: A minor top of the Howgills about fifteen minutes' walk northwest of the Calf. The summit is a grassy dome almost devoid of features. The view is similar to that of the Calf to the south except that it looks directly down Chapel Beck to the southwest, to where the M6 motorway and the West Coast main line squeeze between the hills.

	Butser Hill Location: South Downs, Hampshire Grid Ref: SU 716203 Height: 886 ft (270 m) Status: Marilyn Notes: A prominent top on the South Downs, Butser Hill lays a handful of miles southwest of Petersfield. Although the north slopes contain most of the hill's interesting features there is no legitimate approach on this side; access has to be from the south. A road leads almost to the summit from the south side and the South Downs Way passes within a few hundred metres. The summit features a trig pillar and a small village of radio huts as well as a prominent microwave tower. The view is fairly extensive and includes the Portsmouth / Southampton conurbation to the south along with the Isle of Wight.

	Bynack More Location: Scottish Highlands, Cairngorms Grid Ref: NJ 042063 Height: 3576 ft (1090 m) Status: Munro, Murdo, Marilyn Notes: Bynack More (or Ben Bynack, or Beinn Beithneag, or Caiplich) lays in the north west of the Ben Macdui massif of the central Cairngorms, the highest range of mountains in Britain. It's the highest point of a vaguely wedge-shaped piece of land lying between Strath Nethy and the Lairg an Laiogh. Like most of the Cairngorms it's a vast, gently-rolling upthrust of pink granite carpeted by mosses and short, wiry grasses. It's superb, easy walking terrain although quite remote. The easiest ascent is from Loch Morlich via the Ryvoan pass and the Lairg an Laiogh, a distance of 8½ miles involving 2600 ft of ascent. Views of the central and eastern Cairngorms, some of the grandest scenery in Britain, are superb.

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This page last updated 22nd June 2008

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