North Pennines
Knockshield Moor
574M
1883FT
About Knockshield Moor
Rising above the West Allen valley south of Haltwhistle, this high expanse of heather-clad moorland offers a true sense of North Pennine isolation. The terrain is characteristically peaty and largely pathless. From the broad 574m summit, you can look across the rolling fells toward the prominent bulk of Killhope Law.
Key Statistics
Rank
119th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
28m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
The ground beneath you is made of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone. These layered rocks form the sturdy, natural foundation of the moor.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY818482
Latitude
54.8283°N
Longitude
2.2848°W
Did You Know?
- •The name combines the Brythonic 'knock' (a hill) with the Middle English 'shield', referring to a shieling. This marks the moor as a historical site for summer grazing, where shepherds occupied temporary stone huts.
- •Walkers often approach the summit from Ninebanks to the east, navigating the quiet slopes that border the Cumbrian boundary to reach the expansive, wild plateau.
- •The summit provides a commanding perspective of the West Allen valley, with the distant, rugged edge of the Whin Sill and Hadrian’s Wall country visible to the north on clear days.
- •In the North Pennines, the term 'moor' is frequently a local euphemism for a landscape composed of equal parts waist-high heather and hidden, boot-swallowing peat hags.