North Pennines
Height of Hazely
553M
1814FT
About Height of Hazely
Rising above the Mallerstang valley near Kirkby Stephen, this high moorland plateau offers a wild, untamed character. The terrain is defined by sprawling peat hags and soft ground, providing an expansive perspective across the Eden Valley towards the dark silhouette of Wild Boar Fell and the distant Howgill Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
132nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
125m
Nearest Town
West Burton
Geology
You’re trekking across layers of sandstone, mudstone, and siltstone. These rocks form the sturdy Red Scar Grit and Millstone Grit foundations of this fell.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SE037859
Latitude
54.2687°N
Longitude
1.9447°W
Did You Know?
- •The name follows a common Pennine convention where 'Height' denotes the summit of a broad moor; 'Hazely' likely stems from the Old English 'hæsel', suggesting hazel trees once grew on the lower, more sheltered slopes of the surrounding gills.
- •Positioned on a significant watershed, the hill marks a drainage divide between the River Eden flowing west toward the Irish Sea and the Swale drainage system heading east toward the North Sea.
- •The summit is a key navigation point on the high-level ridge walk connecting High Seat and Gregory Chapel, offering a quieter, more remote alternative to the popular Pennine Way routes to the north.
- •Crossing this summit in wet weather usually involves a dedicated commitment to 'bog-trotting,' as the plateau is notorious for its deep, black peat hags and saturated moss.