Backstone Edge

Hill, Mountain in Westmorland Eden

England

Backstone Edge

High Scald Fell Lovely fell that not many visit — High Scald Fell Credit: brian mccaffery

Backstone Edge is a prominent hill and mountain located in the county of Westmorland, in the northwestern region of England. Rising to an elevation of approximately 502 meters (1,647 feet), it forms part of the Pennine range in the South Pennines. The hill is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Backstone Edge is characterized by its rugged terrain, with steep slopes and rocky outcrops that give it a distinctive and imposing appearance. Its natural features make it a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and nature enthusiasts seeking an adventurous experience. The hill is also home to a variety of flora and fauna, including heather, mosses, and birds such as curlews and meadow pipits.

The hill is easily accessible by foot, with several well-marked trails and footpaths leading to its summit. The most popular route starts from the nearby village of Ravenstonedale, taking visitors through picturesque countryside and offering glimpses of the local wildlife along the way. Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding valleys, moorlands, and distant peaks.

Backstone Edge is steeped in history and folklore, with ancient burial mounds and stone circles suggesting human habitation in the area dating back thousands of years. The hill also played a significant role during the Industrial Revolution, with evidence of lead mining operations that once thrived in the region.

Overall, Backstone Edge is a captivating natural landmark that offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Westmorland countryside while exploring its rich history and diverse wildlife.

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Backstone Edge Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.643634/-2.4262262 or Grid Reference NY7227. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

High Scald Fell

Lovely fell that not many visit

brian mccaffery

Stone shelter .overlooking Murton Pike and Roman Fell in the distance

Old shepherd's stone shelter. Well worth the hike but hard to spot.

brian mccaffery

Ordnance Survey Cut Mark

This OS cut mark can be found on the gatepost SE side of the track. It marks a point 1273.0ft above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Ordnance Survey Pivot

This OS pivot can be found on the north angle of the sheep fold. It marks a point 1444.6ft above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Ordnance Survey Pivot

This OS pivot can be found on the east face of the wall. It marks a point 1456.7ft above mean sea level.

Adrian Dust

Wool Beck and moorland

David Brown

Rough ground north of High Cup Nick

David Brown

Moorland ridge east of Seamore Tarn

David Brown

Bridleway to Threlkeld Side

The bridleway was used by the mines in the Great Rundale valley. The scar in the hillside on the right is a hush - a man-made gorge formed by releasing the water from dammed streams, washing away the upper layers of earth to expose seams of ore.

David Robinson

Great Rundale

Great Rundale is a significant slice into the western flank of the north Pennines. Historically it's seen much mineral mining and the valley is scarred both in the stretch visible here and in its upper reaches with the extensive remains of it. The view is from a mine and estate road on the valley's south side; it's line can be seen entering the right edge of the image. The black dot a short way along the road is a fine old lime kiln: Link.

Trevor Littlewood

Great Rundale, eroding hill slope

Great Rundale has seen much mining activity in the past and some of the evidence is seen here, viewed from a track on the south side of the valley, above the main estate road through it. The steep eroded slope may or may not be mined and discarded material but a terrace below the upper rocks suggests that it is mine spoil dumped below from there. There are a number of remaining fragments of masonry which surely will soon be lost to the on-going erosion of the slope.

Trevor Littlewood

Peat banks, pools and Great Rundale Tarn

Great Rundale is a steep cleft of a valley into the western flank of the northern Pennines and a walk through it is very much 'Lake District' in character. Above 650m however the steepness ends and the nature of the landscape becomes moorland in appearance. The view here is to the west end of Great Rundale Tarn over peat banks and pools; Meldon Hill is the distant mountain.

Trevor Littlewood

Great Rundale Tarn

Great Rundale Tarn lies amid undulating moorland to the east of the head of Great Rundale. The eastern end of the lake is seen here with Mickle Fell and Little Fell the distant peaks; both lie within the MOD Warcop firing range.

Trevor Littlewood

Trig point above Backstone Edge

The trig point seen here (known to the OS as 'Dufton'), is not at the local high point but perhaps 250m to the south-west of it; the trig point location is given as 692m - 7m lower. The view is generally to the north where Cross Fell, the Dun Fells and Knock Fell are seen. Note: Listings of two thousand foot hills generally name the 'peak' here as Backstone Edge but that name actually refers to an horizon of the western slope of the mountain to the south of both the trig and the true summit; in all probability, this hill is effectively nameless. Further Note: The trig point has been robbed of its bronze flush bracket; the cavity can be seen.

Trevor Littlewood

Little Rundale Beck

Little Rundale Beck runs in a shallow groove from high ground above; here its course is mainly through grass, higher it's significantly bouldery in places. Below, (to the left of the image), the fall of the stream steepens markedly and becomes extremely bouldery. The local high point lies in the direction of the view and is above the distant, shadowed ground; it's known generally as Backstone Edge but that name refers more properly to ground high on the hill on the camera side of Little Rundale Beck.

Trevor Littlewood

Boulders close to Little Rundale Beck

The western face of the ground rising towards the hill known as Backstone Edge, to the east of Dufton is generally of steep grass with bands and areas of grey boulderiness. The slopes seen here below the camera position and to the south beyond the obvious slot of Little Rundale Beck show the extent of boulder cover.

Trevor Littlewood