Lilswood Moor

About Lilswood Moor

Tucked away in the northern fringes of the North Pennines, this broad expanse of heather and rough grasses offers a quiet, understated climb. Reaching the 447-metre summit requires navigating typical moorland terrain—expect damp ground and a feeling of immense scale, with the rolling fells of Northumberland stretching out in every direction.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name likely stems from the Old English personal name Lilla, combined with 'wudu' (wood), suggesting the moor was historically associated with a wooded estate on the lower slopes before the high ground was cleared for grazing.
• •Sitting south of Hexham in the Hexhamshire district, the hill forms part of the transition between the lush Tyne Valley and the wilder, high-altitude peat bogs that define the Pennine interior.
• •From the summit, the view north provides a clear perspective over the Tyne Valley towards the distant rising ground of the Great Whin Sill, where the central sections of Hadrian’s Wall are situated.
• •Much of the moor is managed for grouse shooting, meaning walkers will likely encounter traditional stone butts and a network of tracks that occasionally vanish into the thick heather.
• •Navigating the summit plateau in mist is a masterclass in the many subtle varieties of northern bog; it is a place where 'waterproof' boots are often treated as a polite suggestion rather than a functional reality.