North Pennines
Oxnop Common - Blackstone
584M
1916FT
About Oxnop Common - Blackstone
Situated on the high moorland divide between Swaledale and Wensleydale, this Tump offers a quintessential Pennine experience. The terrain is dominated by heather and peat, leading to a summit marked by gritstone outcrops. It provides a rugged, quiet vantage point overlooking the dramatic, winding descent of the Oxnop Pass road below.
Key Statistics
Rank
113th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
Data coming soon
Nearest Town
Carperby
Geology
You are walking across layers of Hardrow Scar and Gayle limestone. These sturdy rocks form the solid foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD924947
Latitude
54.2930°N
Longitude
2.0120°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Oxnop derives from the Old English 'oxa' and 'hop', signifying a remote valley or enclosure where oxen were kept, while Blackstone likely refers to the dark gritstone outcrops scattered across the moorland plateau.
- •The summit offers an excellent perspective on the 'U-shaped' glacial profile of Swaledale, with clear views across the valley to the distinctive profiles of Great Shunner Fell and Lovely Seat.
- •Hikers often approach via the Oxnop Pass, a mountain road originally used as a packhorse route for transporting lead and goods between the market towns of Muker and Askrigg.
- •Navigating the plateau in mist offers a masterclass in 'peat-hag hopping,' a local pastime where the prize is keeping your boots dry and the penalty is a knee-deep immersion in cold Yorkshire sludge.