North Pennines
Pickerstone Ridge
565M
1854FT
About Pickerstone Ridge
Located above the Eden Valley near Kirkby Stephen, this high moorland ridge offers a quiet alternative to the busier Mallerstang peaks. The terrain is largely trackless grass and peat, rewarding hikers with clear, earned views across to the distinctive flat-topped silhouette of Wild Boar Fell and the rounded Howgill Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
123rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
78m
Nearest Town
Low Row
Geology
You are hiking across layers of sandstone, mudstone, and siltstone. These rocks, along with flint-like chert, form the foundation of Pickerstone Ridge.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD994946
Latitude
54.3469°N
Longitude
2.0107°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely refers to a boundary or clearance stone; 'picking' stones was a common task in upland farming to clear grazing land or mark territory across the fells.
- •The ridge is frequently traversed as part of a high-level horseshoe from Kirkby Stephen, connecting the limestone pavements of the lower slopes to the peat-heavy summit of High Seat.
- •On a clear day, the northern horizon is dominated by the North Pennine escarpment, specifically the massive bulk of Cross Fell and the distinctive radar station on Great Dun Fell.
- •As the hill is classified only as a Tump, it remains largely ignored by most peak-baggers, meaning the local Swaledale sheep are usually the only witnesses to your arrival at the summit.