Lamb Hill

About Lamb Hill

Situated on the high ridge of the Border Fence, this rounded Cheviot summit marks the boundary between England and Scotland. It is a lonely, exposed spot on the Pennine Way, offering firm walking on grass and peat. From here, you look deep into the remote valleys of both Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is a literal reference to the hill's history as summer grazing land; for centuries, shepherds from the lower Coquet and Kale valleys would move their flocks to these high 'shielings' once the winter snows had retreated.
• •The summit is bisected by the Border Fence, which follows the line of the ancient boundary established in the 13th century. This specific section once divided the Middle Marches, a lawless territory often patrolled by the Border Reivers.
• •Lamb Hill serves as a key waypoint on the final, most strenuous leg of the Pennine Way between Byrness and Kirk Yetholm, positioned between the steep rise of Beefstand Hill and the popular viewpoint of Windy Gyle.
• •The summit offers a specific, far-reaching view to the north beyond the Cheviot massif; on a clear day, the distinctive triple-peaked silhouette of the Eildon Hills near Melrose is visible across the Scottish Borders.
• •Despite the gentle-sounding name, you are far more likely to encounter a hardy, weather-beaten Cheviot ewe than a lamb at the summit; at 511 metres, it is a long, exposed walk up for anything that still requires its mother.