Peak District
Hawshaw Hill
363M
1191FT
About Hawshaw Hill
Rising above the village of Lothersdale, this modest Pennine summit offers a quiet vantage point on the northern fringes of the Peak District. Characterised by rolling pastures and sturdy drystone walls, the ascent follows the iconic Pennine Way, rewarding walkers with clear perspectives over the Aire Valley and the nearby bulk of Pinhaw Moor.
Key Statistics
Rank
298th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
The Peak District
Prominence
?
76
Nearest Town
Lothersdale
Geology
Hawshaw Hill is built from layers of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These hardy, gritty rocks form the solid ground beneath your boots.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD945445
Latitude
53.8966°N
Longitude
2.0852°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Hawshaw likely derives from the Old English 'haga' and 'sceaga', suggesting a 'hedged copse' or 'enclosed wood' once occupied these now-exposed slopes.
- •The hill serves as a transitional marker on the Pennine Way, where the gritstone heritage of the South Pennines begins to yield to the limestone scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.
- •Looking north from the summit, the distinctive twin profiles of Sharp Haw and Rough Haw are clearly visible standing guard over the market town of Skipton.
- •For many hikers, the primary significance of Hawshaw Hill is that it marks the start of a punishingly steep descent into Lothersdale, usually undertaken with the sole focus of reaching the pub before the kitchen closes.