Northumberland
Leap Hill
471M
1545FT
About Leap Hill
Rising above the remote Harthope Valley, this rounded Cheviot summit offers a quiet alternative to its more famous neighbours. Its grassy, heather-clad slopes provide a steady climb, rewarding walkers with a clear perspective across the rugged northern moorland towards the imposing mass of Hedgehope Hill and the distant North Sea coast.
Key Statistics
Rank
56th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
47
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
You are walking across the Ballagan Formation, a sturdy blend of gritty sandstone, fine-grained rock, and lime-rich stone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT728070
Latitude
55.3563°N
Longitude
2.4306°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Old English 'hlyp', suggesting a 'leap' or a point where a stream or narrow gap in the terrain could be easily jumped.
- •The summit offers a particularly fine view of the northern fringes of the range, looking towards the prominent Iron Age hillfort of Yeavering Bell.
- •Walkers often reach this top by following the ridge line from the Newton Tors, a route that avoids the deeper, more notorious peat bogs found on the higher Cheviot massif.
- •At 471 metres, it is high enough to feel the full force of a Cheviot gale, but just low enough to be overlooked by the crowds heading for the main summit cairns.