Dent

About Dent

Rising sharply above Egremont, this westernmost outlier marks the true edge of the Lake District. The steep ascent from Nannycatch rewards walkers with a dramatic transition from the West Cumbrian coastal plain to an expansive panorama that takes in the high Western Fells and the distant Isle of Man.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Cumbric word for 'hill' or 'peak', sharing its linguistic roots with the Old Welsh word for tooth, a fitting description for this sharp, isolated rise on the edge of the coastal plain.
• •Classified as a Wainwright Outlying Fell, it was described by Alfred Wainwright as a conspicuous landmark for sailors and the first height encountered by travellers approaching the district from the west.
• •The summit offers a starkly contrasting view; to the west lies the industrial coastline and the Irish Sea, while the eastern horizon is dominated by the massive profiles of Pillar, Steeple, and the High Stile range.
• •The hill is frequently visited as part of a circuit involving the Nannycatch valley, a deep, sheltered limestone gorge that provides a surprisingly verdant contrast to the exposed heather moorland of the summit plateau.
• •At just 346 metres, it is technically a modest outlier, though the unforgivingly direct path from the west will quickly convince your calves that you are tackling something far more substantial.