North Pennines
Grey Nag
656M
2152FT
About Grey Nag
Set in the wild moorlands of the North Pennines near Haltwhistle, this 656-metre Hewitt offers a stern sense of isolation. Its broad, peat-happed slopes require a keen eye for navigation, rewarding those who brave the damp terrain with expansive views across the South Tyne valley toward the Lake District fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
57th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
40m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
Grey Nag is shaped by the Stainmore Formation, a sturdy foundation of layered sandstone, mudstone, and limestone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY664476
Latitude
54.8221°N
Longitude
2.5245°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Grey Nag' is likely a descriptive reference to a 'grey horse,' a traditional naming convention where the rounded shape of the summit or a specific outcrop of light-coloured rock was thought to resemble an animal’s back.
- •It is frequently bagged alongside its higher neighbour, Cold Fell; together, they represent the most northerly ground in England to reach the 2,000ft mark, sitting well north of the more famous Cross Fell range.
- •From the summit, the view extends past the nearby Geltsdale Forest to the Solway Firth, with the distinctive rounded profiles of the Scottish Southern Uplands visible on the horizon.
- •This is a landscape where the grass is often merely a suggestion of solid ground; the high plateau is notorious among hillwalkers for its deep peat hags and an impressive ability to claim any boot not securely fastened.