Packhorse Hill

About Packhorse Hill

Set within the expansive, peat-stained moorlands of the Far Eastern Fells near Shap, this quiet Synge summit offers a solitude rarely found in the central Lake District. Its gentle, grassy slopes overlook the remote head of Swindale, providing a rugged vantage point over the ancient tracks that once connected these isolated valleys.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name refers to the hill’s proximity to historic transport routes. Before metalled roads, packhorse trains were the primary means of moving goods between the secluded Mardale and Swindale valleys and the nearby market town of Shap.
• •Although excluded from Wainwright’s guides, the hill is recognized as a 'Synge' summit. This classification was established by Tim Synge in his 1995 book, The Lakeland Fells, which sought to document every distinct fell top in the district.
• •The summit offers a clear, specific view of the spectacular Gouther Crag at the head of Swindale. In the opposite direction, the eastern horizon is defined by the long, flat-topped profile of the North Pennines, including the distinctive silhouette of Cross Fell.
• •Most walkers visit the summit as part of a remote circuit from Wet Sleddale Reservoir. This is 'quiet' walking at its purest, characterized by pathless terrain and vast expanses of cotton grass that remain saturated for much of the year.
• •It is one of those hills where the OS map’s lack of a formal path is an entirely accurate warning that your gaiters will be doing a significant amount of heavy lifting.