Castle Hill

Hill, Mountain in Westmorland Eden

England

Castle Hill

Little Longrigg Scar Credit: David Brown

Castle Hill is a prominent hill located in the district of Westmorland, England. Rising to an elevation of 1,123 feet (342 meters), it is considered one of the notable hills in the region. Situated in the northern part of Westmorland, Castle Hill offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The hill derives its name from the remains of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle that once stood on its summit. This historic castle, believed to have been built during the Norman period, played a significant role in the defense of the area. Unfortunately, only remnants of the castle's earthworks and ditches are visible today, serving as a reminder of its former grandeur.

Castle Hill is a popular destination for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and history buffs alike. The hill is accessible via public footpaths and offers various walking routes for visitors to explore. The ascent to the summit can be moderately challenging, but the rewarding views make it worth the effort.

The surrounding landscape is characterized by rolling hills, green pastures, and scattered woodlands, creating a picturesque setting. Wildlife is abundant in the area, with sightings of various bird species, rabbits, and occasional deer.

Visitors to Castle Hill can take advantage of the nearby amenities, such as parking facilities and picnic areas. The hill's location also allows for easy access to other attractions in Westmorland, including historic villages, castles, and natural landmarks.

Overall, Castle Hill in Westmorland offers a captivating blend of history, natural beauty, and outdoor activities, making it an enticing destination for locals and tourists alike.

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Castle Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.46922/-2.336818 or Grid Reference NY7808. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Little Longrigg Scar

David Brown

Limestone edge on Birkett Hill

David Brown

Birkett Hill

Birkett Hill as seen from the farm/estate road that is also the route of the Coast to Coast Walk.

Trevor Littlewood

The view west from Long Rigg

Looking west from the highest point on Long Rigg towards Kirkby Stephen and the distant High Street range in the Lake District.

Gordon Hatton

The view SSW from Long Rigg

The view from the highest point of Long Rigg, looking SSW towards Wild Boar Fell.

Gordon Hatton

Footpath spotting southwest of Winton

The trouble with footpaths which are rarely trodden is that they are far from obvious on the ground. My best guess for this one was that it headed for the gate right of centre in this view. The GPS suggested otherwise and I needed to head off to the right of the photo, where a closer approach brought a stile into view - perfectly well waymarked, but not visible from a distance. It did lead into the same field as the gate....

Andy Waddington

Birkett Hill

Mick Garratt

Looking to Birkett Hill from the Hartley Fell track

The voie normale from Kirkby Stephen to Nine Standards Rigg (part of the Coast-to-Coat walk) takes this track from the end of the public road through Hartley up onto Hartley Fell. This view looks back to the higher of two Birkett Hills in the vicinity - the other being a kilometre or so to its southwest. The Coast-to-Coast walk has proved so popular that at certain seasons one is asked to take alternative routes onto Nine Standards Rigg to give the ground a chance to recover. This damage is mostly on the peaty open moor above and there is little chance that walkers will wear this bit of track away! As the track climbs gently onto the fell, the views over the Eden valley get more extensive, and stretch to the Warcop army training area in the far distance. During our walk a low-flying jet circled time after time over the ranges, causing a much longer lasting disturbance of the peace of the fells than we normally expect. At least I supposed they weren't shooting the wildlife.

Andy Waddington

Kirkby Stephen East

Kirkby Stephen East station was once at an important railway junction; closure came and the buildings were put to another use with the space between platforms being filled in and concreted over. A new company has been formed by enthusiasts which plans to have the route to Appleby functioning again.

Trevor Littlewood