North Pennines
Chapelfell Top
700M
2298FT
About Chapelfell Top
Standing high above the upper reaches of Weardale, this 700-metre summit epitomises the wild, peat-covered character of the North Pennines. It is a lonely Hewitt, often bypassed for more famous peaks, offering a quiet sense of isolation and expansive views across the heather-clad moors towards Cross Fell and the Great Dun Fell radome.
Key Statistics
Rank
22nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
142.1m
Nearest Town
St. John's Chapel
Geology
You are walking over the Stainmore Formation, a sturdy foundation composed of layered sandstone, mudstone, and limestone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY875346
Latitude
54.7063°N
Longitude
2.1955°W
Did You Know?
- •The name originates from the village of St John’s Chapel in the valley of Weardale; the 'fell' was historically the common grazing land belonging to the chapel’s parishioners.
- •The summit is marked by a traditional Ordnance Survey trig pillar and a modest cairn, providing a rare point of solid ground amidst the expansive, mossy plateau.
- •On a clear day, hikers can look westward to see the unmistakable profiles of the 'Pennine Giants'—Cross Fell, Little Dun Fell, and the white radar dome of Great Dun Fell—shimmering on the horizon.
- •The hill is often walked as part of a high-level horseshoe with neighbouring Westernhope Moor, offering a long, undulating day on some of the highest ground in County Durham.
- •The plateau is home to some of the most enthusiastic peat hags in the region, capable of swallowing a walking pole—and occasionally a boot—with very little warning.