Lake District
Dent
346M
1135FT
About Dent
Rising sharply above Egremont, this westernmost outlier marks the true edge of the Lake District. The steep ascent from Nannycatch rewards walkers with a dramatic transition from the West Cumbrian coastal plain to an expansive panorama that takes in the high Western Fells and the distant Isle of Man.
Key Statistics
Rank
682nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
6m
Nearest Town
Cleator
Geology
You are walking on the Buttermere Formation. It is made of ancient mud and sand that have hardened into layers of solid rock.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY037130
Latitude
54.5036°N
Longitude
3.4880°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Cumbric word for 'hill' or 'peak', sharing its linguistic roots with the Old Welsh word for tooth, a fitting description for this sharp, isolated rise on the edge of the coastal plain.
- •Classified as a Wainwright Outlying Fell, it was described by Alfred Wainwright as a conspicuous landmark for sailors and the first height encountered by travellers approaching the district from the west.
- •The summit offers a starkly contrasting view; to the west lies the industrial coastline and the Irish Sea, while the eastern horizon is dominated by the massive profiles of Pillar, Steeple, and the High Stile range.
- •The hill is frequently visited as part of a circuit involving the Nannycatch valley, a deep, sheltered limestone gorge that provides a surprisingly verdant contrast to the exposed heather moorland of the summit plateau.
- •At just 346 metres, it is technically a modest outlier, though the unforgivingly direct path from the west will quickly convince your calves that you are tackling something far more substantial.