Hand Lake

Situated on the wild, peat-dappled ridge between Mallerstang and Swaledale, this lonely Tump offers a quiet alternative to the busier High Seat. The terrain consists of gritstone edges and boggy troughs, rewarding those who navigate its pathless slopes with stark moorland views across the Eden valley toward the distant Lake District.

• •The name likely stems from the Old English 'lacu', meaning a stream or pool, which refers to the various boggy tarns and 'hags' found across this high plateau.
• •This summit sits on the high ground that forms a significant drainage divide, separating the waters flowing west into the River Eden from those heading east into the River Swale.
• •From the summit, walkers can look south to the bulky silhouette of High Seat or north-west to identify the prominent dry-stone pillars of Nine Standards Rigg.
• •The 'lake' in the name is a generous description of the sodden peat hags that define the summit, which are far more likely to swallow a walking boot than host a boat.