Moughton

About Moughton

Sitting above the village of Austwick, this limestone plateau is a masterclass in Dales geology. It is renowned for its vast, intricate pavements and the rare juniper thickets that cling to the clints. The summit offers a commanding perspective of Ingleborough’s eastern face and the distinctive profile of Pen-y-ghent across the valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The hill is a site of international geological importance due to the 'Moughton Unconformity,' where horizontal Carboniferous limestone sits directly atop much older, tilted Silurian siltstones, representing a gap in the geological record of millions of years.
• •Moughton is home to one of the largest and best examples of a juniper wood in the north of England. These hardy shrubs thrive in the alkaline soil of the limestone scars, providing a rare habitat in an otherwise windswept landscape.
• •The name likely derives from the Old English word 'muga', meaning a heap or cairn, combined with 'tun', an enclosure or farmstead, suggesting the hill has been a landmark for local pastoralists for over a millennium.
• •While often overshadowed by its 'Three Peaks' neighbours, the summit provides an unmatched view of the Crummackdale valley below, framed by the dramatic limestone ramparts of Moughton Nab.
• •Historically, the hill was known for the 'Moughton Whetstone,' a specific type of fine-grained Silurian rock found at the base of the limestone that was once highly prized for sharpening tools.
• •Navigating the summit plateau requires a keen eye and nimble ankles; the limestone grikes are perfectly sized to swallow a walking pole or a distracted hiker’s boot.