North Pennines
Dead Stones
710M
2329FT
About Dead Stones
Rising above the remote moorlands of the North Pennines, this 710m Hewitt offers a true sense of isolation. Primarily a peat-covered plateau, it is often bagged alongside neighbouring Burnhope Seat. The terrain is famously boggy, rewarding those who navigate its wild, trackless reaches with expansive views across the Eden Valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
14th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
34m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
The ground beneath you is built from the Stainmore Formation. It consists of layers of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY793399
Latitude
54.7536°N
Longitude
2.3231°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely refers to the prominent, weather-beaten gritstone boulders scattered across the high plateau, which have served as essential navigation landmarks on this otherwise featureless moor for centuries.
- •Dead Stones sits on the watershed divide between the Irish Sea and the North Sea; rainfall on its western slopes feeds the River Eden, while the eastern side drains toward the River Wear.
- •The ascent is frequently combined with the nearby Nuttall of Burnhope Seat, though the high ground between them is notorious for deep peat hags and 'groughs' that can easily swallow a trekking pole.
- •From the summit, the view west is dominated by the massive escarpment of the Cross Fell range, while to the south, the sprawling, restricted plateau of Mickle Fell rises above the Tees Valley.
- •The hill's summit area is so remarkably flat and devoid of distinct features that the modest pile of stones marking the high point can feel like a major architectural achievement.