North Pennines
Ayle Common
524M
1719FT
About Ayle Common
Rising above the South Tyne valley near Alston, this expansive stretch of North Pennine moorland offers a quiet, pathless experience for those seeking solitude. Its broad, heather-clad slopes lead to a summit plateau characterized by typical peat hags and wide-ranging views across the valley towards the high fells of Cross Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
164th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
47m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
Ayle Common is built upon the Stainmore Formation. You are walking over a foundation of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY724509
Latitude
54.8521°N
Longitude
2.4314°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Old English 'halh', meaning a nook or corner of land, which describes how the common is tucked between the Ayle Burn and the River South Tyne.
- •The area is synonymous with small-scale industry; Ayle Colliery, located on the lower slopes, was one of the final drift mines in the country to extract coal from the Little Limestone seam.
- •The summit provides an excellent vantage point to view the 'Pennine Greats' to the southwest, specifically the long, high ridge connecting Cross Fell to the distinctive white radar dome atop Great Dun Fell.
- •While officially classified as a Tump, the primary challenge for walkers isn't the thirty-metre prominence, but rather negotiating the saturated peat hags without losing a boot to the North Pennine mud.