North Pennines
Robert's Seat
549M
1801FT
About Robert's Seat
Rising above the head of Swaledale near Kirkby Stephen, this expansive moorland summit offers a sense of true Pennine isolation. The terrain is often saturated and defined by peat hags, but the reward is a clear vista across the Mallerstang valley towards the distinctive, craggy profile of Wild Boar Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
135th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
21.7m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
The ground beneath you is made of rugged sandstone, silt, and hardened mud. These layered rocks form the sturdy foundation of the fell you’re exploring.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY871044
Latitude
54.4349°N
Longitude
2.2004°W
Did You Know?
- •The hill forms part of the high watershed divide between the River Swale, which flows east to the North Sea, and the River Eden, which flows north and west towards the Solway Firth.
- •The summit is often visited as a quiet detour from the popular Coast to Coast Path, which passes just to the north across the peat-scarred slopes of Nine Standards Rigg.
- •From the highest point, the view extends past the nearby Mallerstang Edge to the rounded, velvety silhouettes of the Howgill Fells further to the west.
- •In the Yorkshire Dales, the term 'Seat' usually refers to a high point on a ridge or a prominent plateau; while the specific 'Robert' is unidentified, the name likely marks an old boundary or a local shepherd’s traditional resting spot.
- •The local terrain is such that if you manage to reach the summit with dry socks, you have likely either experienced a generational drought or have mastered the art of levitation.