Ash Fell

Rising above the village of Crosby Garrett, this modest limestone upland offers a quiet, grassy alternative to the busier fells. Its terrain is defined by scarred outcrops and short-cropped turf, providing easy walking with expansive views across the Eden Valley toward the distant silhouettes of the North Pennines.

• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'æsc', referring to the ash trees that thrive in the thin, alkaline soils of the limestone outcrops found throughout this corner of the Westmorland Dales.
• •The summit provides a clear perspective on the dramatic eastern flanks of the Howgill Fells and the high plateau of Wild Boar Fell, while the long ridge of the North Pennines dominates the northern skyline.
• •Walkers often approach from the north to combine the summit with a visit to Smardale Gill, where a disused railway line crosses a spectacular Victorian viaduct through a secluded limestone gorge.
• •The fell is characterized by Carboniferous limestone, featuring subtle 'scars' and small pavements that share the same geological origins as the more famous formations at Malham.
• •While officially a Tump, its lack of height means you are far more likely to share the summit with a stray sheep than a crowd of peak-baggers.