North Pennines
Kensgriff
574M
1883FT
About Kensgriff
Tucked away in the velvet-green folds of the Howgill Fells near Sedbergh, this steep-sided grassy dome offers a quiet perspective on the range’s more famous summits. Its smooth, trackless slopes are typical of the area, providing a strenuous but rewarding link between the higher tops of Yarlside and Randygill Top.
Key Statistics
Rank
119th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
67m
Nearest Town
Sedbergh
Geology
Kensgriff is formed from layers of hardened mud, silt, and sand. This mix includes lime-rich deposits and beds of compressed clay.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD688992
Latitude
54.3873°N
Longitude
2.4819°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'gryfja', which in local dialect became 'griff', referring to a narrow, steep-sided valley or ravine like the deep-cut gills that flank this summit.
- •Positioned on a high, grassy saddle, the hill is a key landmark for those traversing the ridge between the bulky mass of Yarlside to the south and the northern heights of Randygill Top.
- •The summit offers a particularly clear view down the long, glacial trough of Bowderdale, framed by the steep slopes of The Calf and West Fell.
- •In a range often likened to a huddle of 'sleeping elephants,' Kensgriff is the modest specimen that tends to get bypassed by walkers rushing toward the more prominent high points.