North Pennines
Outberry Plain
656M
2152FT
About Outberry Plain
Rising above the Eden Valley, this high, peat-hags-strewn plateau forms a wild shoulder of the Mickle Fell massif. Located within the North Pennines’ Eastern Fells, it offers a remote, exposed experience. Reaching the summit requires navigating trackless moorland, but rewards walkers with vast, quiet views across the Pennines.
Key Statistics
Rank
57th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
5m
Nearest Town
County Durham
Geology
You are walking across the Stainmore Formation, a sturdy mix of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone that forms the fell’s foundation.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY937330
Latitude
54.6920°N
Longitude
2.0993°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old English 'berie', referring to the abundance of wild fruit like bilberries found across the moor, while 'plain' describes its remarkably flat, high-altitude profile.
- •Access is strictly regulated because the hill sits within the Warcop Training Area; walkers must check MOD firing times before attempting an ascent, as the range is frequently used for live-fire exercises.
- •Often visited alongside its loftier neighbour, Mickle Fell, Outberry Plain serves as a bleakly beautiful vantage point overlooking the dramatic U-shaped glacial valley of High Cup Nick to the west.
- •On clear days, the view west across the Eden Valley provides a stunning silhouette of the Lake District's eastern fells, with the distinctive profile of Blencathra clearly visible on the horizon.
- •Navigating the plateau in thick mist is less an exercise in hillwalking and more a masterclass in the creative art of peat-hag leaping.