Burnhope Head

Landscape Feature in Cumberland Eden

England

Burnhope Head

Peat banks on north-west side of Harwood Common A hill walker following the Tees / Wear watershed on a perfect winter&#039;s day.
Harwood Common is a minor moorland hill along the watershed; other hills in the distance are High Field, Chapel Fell and Fendrith Hill. — Peat banks on north-west side of Harwood Common Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Burnhope Head is a prominent landscape feature located in the county of Cumberland, England. It is situated in the northern part of the county, near the border with Northumberland. Rising to an elevation of 747 meters (2,451 feet), Burnhope Head is the highest point in Cumberland and one of the highest peaks in the region.

The landscape around Burnhope Head is characterized by rugged terrain, with steep slopes and rocky outcrops. The summit offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the nearby North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

At the peak of Burnhope Head, there is a trig point, which serves as a marker for surveying and navigation purposes. The trig point is a concrete pillar with a metal plaque, providing a reference point for measuring distances and angles in the landscape.

Burnhope Head is a popular destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, who are drawn to its challenging terrain and stunning views. There are several walking routes that lead to the summit, including the Pennine Way, a long-distance trail that traverses the upland areas of northern England.

The area surrounding Burnhope Head is also of historical significance. It was once a lead mining region, and remnants of the industry, such as old mine shafts and spoil heaps, can still be seen in the landscape.

Overall, Burnhope Head is a prominent and visually striking landscape feature, offering both natural beauty and cultural heritage to visitors.

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Burnhope Head Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.738247/-2.327539 or Grid Reference NY7938. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Peat banks on north-west side of Harwood Common

A hill walker following the Tees / Wear watershed on a perfect winter's day. Harwood Common is a minor moorland hill along the watershed; other hills in the distance are High Field, Chapel Fell and Fendrith Hill.

Trevor Littlewood

Hill slopes beyond valley of Scraith Burn

The stream groove beyond the foreground moorland is that of the Scraith Burn which drains into Burnhope Reservoir, also in the image. High Field is beyond the shadow of the stream slot.

Trevor Littlewood

Path approaching trig point of Burnhope Seat

A thin path over grass created by hill walkers approaching the summit of Burnhope Seat: having climbed beside the fence to the left, they deviate as the trig point comes into view. The trig point of course is not at the highest point of the hill!

Trevor Littlewood

Heather moorland on south side of Burnhope Seat

Low-angled heather moorland descending to the south on the southern side of Burnhope Seat which is the historic high point of County Durham. County boundary reorganisation in 1972, (enacted 1974), saw that change and now the county top is Mickle Fell, which is the distant dark ridge. Previously it had been the county top of Yorkshire.

Trevor Littlewood

Small cairn at summit of Harwood Common

Harwood Common is a minor moorland hill along the Tees / Wear watershed. Most of the ground in the distance is along that same watershed - High Field is to the left with Chapel Fell and Fendrith Hill in the distance. To the right is Three Pikes: only the northern end of it can be considered to be along that watershed.

Trevor Littlewood

Standing water on summit plateau of Burnhope Seat

Bogs and heather dominate the summit area of this hill. In the distance, close to a fence junction is the trig point; it stands on a concrete block. The trig is not reckoned to be at the hill's highest point; that's a metre higher and somewhere behind the camera position.

Trevor Littlewood

Summit cairn of Dead Stones

Summit cairns are often simple piles of stones but that at the 709 m. top of Dead Stones is a well-constructed pillar. The bulk of Burnhope Seat is distant.

Trevor Littlewood

Former lead mine by Clargill Burn

Looking north east towards Burnhop Seat.

Mike Quinn

Moorland below Burnhope Seat

Mike Quinn

Groove with peat banks descending into Burn Hope

Burn Hope is a significant side valley of upper Weardale, the lower part of the valley was dammed to create the Burnhope Reservoir which is unseen below the trees left of centre in the image.

Trevor Littlewood

Scaud Hill

David Brown

Bog on north side of Scaud Hill

Scaud Hill is a minor eminence astride the watershed between Teesdale and Weardale. The view is across moorland slopes and valley grooves, north-west, towards Dead Stones.

Trevor Littlewood

Fence crossing Scaud Hill

The summit of Scaud Hill has little prominence yet is an obvious location along the fence line following the Tees / Wear watershed. It's a clear high point made more noticeable by the small cairn beside the fence. Burnhope Seat is the distant, central, moorland hill. The small rectangle to the right of the cairn looks like a notice but it's just a metal plate fixed to the top wires of the fence to make the presence of the barrier apparent to low-flying grouse.

Trevor Littlewood

Burnhope Seat

The very boggy summit of Burnhope Seat (the actual high point is just behind the camera). The trig pillar is the county top of Co. Durham - 1 m below the actual summit. You get a very good view of Weardale from there.

Richard Webb

Hut and cairn, Dead Stones

Andrew Smith

Little Gill Hush

Hushes were created by mineworkers in order to expose the underlying bedrock. Watercourses were diverted, dammed and then released to create a man-made ravine whereby the geology could be assessed. Just below this hush there is the entrance to a level.

Andrew Smith