North Pennines
Backstone Edge
699M
2293FT
About Backstone Edge
Situated on the high, wild ridge above Mallerstang, this broad Nuttall offers a quiet, peat-clad alternative to the busier Dales peaks. While its terrain is often boggy, the reward is a sense of immense isolation and a commanding perspective over the Eden Valley towards the distant Lake District fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
23rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
25m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
Backstone Edge is built from layers of sandstone and limestone. These rocks, along with silt and mudstone, form the rugged foundation beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY725276
Latitude
54.6428°N
Longitude
2.4276°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely a reference to the local 'backstones' — flat slabs of rock traditionally used in Northern kitchens for baking oatcakes or 'fars' over the hearth.
- •This summit sits on the primary watershed of Northern England; rain falling on its western slopes feeds the River Eden toward the Irish Sea, while eastern runoff eventually reaches the North Sea via the Swale.
- •The ascent is most often combined with High Seat, following a high-level traverse that offers an uninterrupted look at the Settle-Carlisle railway snaking through the valley floor far below.
- •From the summit, the view across the deep trench of Mallerstang Dale is dominated by the massive, flat-topped profile of Wild Boar Fell and the distinctive limestone scars of Fel End.
- •Navigating the peat hags on the plateau is an excellent way to test the structural integrity of your gaiters and your patience in equal measure.