Calver Hill [Reeth Low Moor]

About Calver Hill [Reeth Low Moor]

Rising steeply above Reeth, this limestone fell commands the junction of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Its heather-covered slopes, marked by grouse butts and old lead mining scars, offer a sharp but rewarding climb with a classic Dales panorama looking directly down onto the patchwork fields of the Swale valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'calf-er', meaning 'calf-hill', suggesting these lower limestone slopes were traditionally used for grazing young cattle before they were moved to higher summer pastures.
• •The fell’s landscape is heavily shaped by its industrial past; numerous lead mining remains, including spoil heaps and old shafts, are scattered across the slopes, particularly on the northern side facing Arkengarthdale.
• •Its position at the confluence of two major valleys provides a unique vantage point: you can look directly down the deep trench of Swaledale towards Muker or trace the winding Arkle Beck as it flows south through Arkengarthdale.
• •The summit plateau is a managed grouse moor, where walkers frequently encounter the 'go-back, go-back' call of the red grouse amongst the heather and stone-built shooting butts.
• •For those starting the climb from the green at Reeth, the hill presents a deceptively steep face that makes the village pubs feel significantly further away on the descent than they did at the start.