North Pennines
Little Fell
666M
2186FT
About Little Fell
Situated on the high, desolate moors north of Kirkby Stephen, this expansive upland is a study in isolation. It forms a stark contrast to its more famous neighbours, offering a rugged landscape of deep peat hags and silent plateaus. Reaching the summit requires both careful timing and a tolerance for challenging, pathless terrain.
Key Statistics
Rank
51st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
10.2m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
The ground here consists of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These layered rocks belong to the Millstone Grit Group, forming the fell's sturdy foundation.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD808971
Latitude
54.3690°N
Longitude
2.2970°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a simple relative descriptor: 'Fell' comes from the Old Norse 'fjall', while 'Little' distinguishes it from its much larger neighbour, Mickle Fell—from the Old Norse 'mikill', meaning 'great' or 'large'.
- •Located within the Warcop Training Area, the hill is part of a live-fire military range; public access is strictly controlled and only permitted on designated non-firing days throughout the year, usually during public holidays and specific weekends.
- •The summit area is notorious for its deep peat hags and complex 'groughs' (erosion channels), which require careful navigation and can make a direct line of travel almost impossible in wet weather.
- •From the high plateau, you can look north-west to see the dramatic glaciated notch of High Cup Nick and the white 'golf ball' radar dome crowning the summit of Great Dun Fell.
- •In this particular corner of the North Pennines, the most critical piece of kit isn't your waterproofs or your map, but the Ministry of Defence firing schedule.