North Pennines
Addlebrough
479M
1571FT
About Addlebrough
Rising like a miniature Table Mountain above Wensleydale, this flat-topped Tump offers character far beyond its modest height. Its distinctive plateau, capped with Millstone Grit, provides a superb vantage point over Semer Water and the sprawling valley below, making it a rewarding objective for those exploring the Southern Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
194th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
Data coming soon
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
Addlebrough is built from the Yoredale Group, consisting of stacked layers of limestone and sandstone mixed with softer, muddy rocks.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD947878
Latitude
54.2882°N
Longitude
2.0527°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old English 'eadel', meaning noble or prince, and 'burh', signifying a fortified place, likely referring to the Iron Age hillfort that once occupied the summit.
- •The summit plateau is marked by the remains of ancient habitation, including Iron Age hut circles and a Bronze Age cairn, suggesting the hill has been a site of strategic importance for millennia.
- •The vantage point from the summit offers a classic Wensleydale panorama, looking directly down to Semer Water and across the valley to the tiered slopes of Ellerkin and the village of Askrigg.
- •Its geological structure is defined by the 'Yoredale Series', where a resistant cap of Millstone Grit sits over limestone, creating the dramatic, craggy edges known locally as Addlebrough Scar.
- •While its profile suggests an impenetrable fortress from a distance, the summit is more commonly defended by a confusing array of local sheep and particularly sturdy drystone walls.