Hiking Cross Fell, the highest mountain in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is a fantastic expedition for multiple reasons. With its summit standing at 2,930 feet (893 m), this vast, bulky mountain is the high point of an extensive ridge system along with its neighbours, allowing you to hike from summit to summit without much descent in between.

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North Pennines National Landscape

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Location: Culgaith, Eden, Cumbria, North West England, England, United Kingdom

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Dan Hobson

May 23, 2019

Hiking

At an altitude of 2,930 feet (893 m), Cross Fell is the highest point in the Pennines. From the summit, you are afforded far-reaching views of the Lake District, the west coast and also the east coast. On a clear day, the southern uplands of Scotland and the Cheviots can also be seen.

Explorer: Future & The Past

December 25, 2018

Hiking

Make sure you have a komoot and there is plenty of battery left on your phone as it gets tricky in the fog.

David Howells

July 17, 2024

Hiking

A beautiful hill to hike and a glorious summit to have a break on. It has a wide plateaued top with a number of impressive stone cairns, as well as a trig point and a great dry stone cross shelter. I hiked the Kirkland loop, and this was a particularly nice loop to do. There is not that much of a view from the summit itself because it is so big and flat, but the views to and from it are really nice, in particular over towards Little Dun Fell.

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Best routes near Cross Fell Summit

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#1.

Cross Fell and Greg's Hut Bothy loop from Garrigill — North Pennines

24.2km

06:59

590m

Embark on a challenging 15.1-mile (24.2 km) hike through the remote North Pennines, gaining 1945 feet (593 metres) of elevation to reach England's highest fell outside the Lake District. This…

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#2.

Cross Fell loop on the Pennine Way from Dufton

32.0km

09:31

930m

Hike the challenging 19.9-mile Cross Fell loop from Dufton, gaining 3050 feet for panoramic views in the North Pennines.

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