Northumberland
Purdom Pikes
454M
1490FT
About Purdom Pikes
Situated on the wild border between Northumberland and Scotland, this 454m Tump rises from the lonely moorland north of Kielder Forest. Expect a rough, pathless climb through grass and heather, rewarded by desolate views across the Larriston Fells and the sprawling timber plantations of the North Tyne valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
63rd Highest in Region
Parent Range
England
Prominence
?
46
Nearest Town
Upper Larriston
Geology
The ground beneath your boots is built from the Fell Sandstone Formation. This solid sandstone provides the sturdy foundation for the rugged hills you are climbing today.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY604919
Latitude
55.2197°N
Longitude
2.6240°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the local Border surname 'Purdom', with 'Pikes' referring to the distinct high points along its undulating summit ridge.
- •The summit serves as a quiet marker on the Anglo-Scottish border, where the historic boundary between Northumberland and Roxburghshire follows the line of the watershed.
- •Walkers often combine a visit here with the nearby Deadwater Fell, though the intervening ground is a challenging patchwork of deep peat hags and thick moss.
- •From the top, the vast scale of Kielder Forest is laid bare, while the distant, rounded silhouettes of The Cheviot and Windy Gyle are visible to the northeast.
- •The Border Fence runs directly across the hill, providing the only reliable handrail for navigation in the frequent Northumbrian mists.