North Pennines
Great Blacklaw Hill
595M
1951FT
About Great Blacklaw Hill
Tucked away in the wild Western Fells of the North Pennines, this peat-covered dome offers a stark, solitary escape south of Haltwhistle. The terrain is characteristically rugged, requiring careful navigation through heather and bog. Reaching the lonely trig pillar earns a sweeping view over the South Tyne valley toward the distant silhouette of Cross Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
103rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
23.7m
Nearest Town
Cumberland
Geology
You are walking over the Stainmore Formation, a solid blend of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone. These layered rocks form the rugged foundation of the hill beneath your boots.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY622532
Latitude
54.8721°N
Longitude
2.5906°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a combination of the Old English 'hlāw', meaning a hill or mound, and 'black', referring to the dark, heathery peat that blankets the summit plateau.
- •The summit is marked by a concrete Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar, providing a rare firm vantage point amidst the surrounding hags and mosses.
- •Positioned on the high ground between the River Gelt and the South Tyne, the hill sits within a vast area of moorland known for its importance to ground-nesting birds like the golden plover.
- •From the top, the view north extends across the Roman Wall country toward the hills of the Scottish Borders, while the southern horizon is dominated by the nearby massive ridge of Grey Nag.
- •Navigating the approach requires a certain optimism, as what appears from a distance to be a solid path usually turns out to be a cleverly disguised drainage channel.