North Pennines
Swarth Fell Pike
651M
2136FT
About Swarth Fell Pike
Situated on the broad, peat-hued plateau of Baugh Fell, this summit offers a wild, often boggy experience typical of the Dales' quieter northern fringes. The ascent from Sedbergh rewards walkers with an expansive outlook over the Rawthey Valley towards the steep, velvety slopes of the Howgill Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
59th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
11m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
Swarth Fell Pike is built from layers of rugged sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These hardy rocks form the sturdy foundation you are walking on today.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD760958
Latitude
54.3572°N
Longitude
2.3708°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Swarth derives from the Old Norse word svartr, meaning dark or black, describing the thick mantle of peat and heather that blankets the fell.
- •While standing as an independent summit, the Pike is the highest point of Baugh Fell, a massive gritstone plateau that bridges the gap between the Howgill Fells and the main Pennine range.
- •The summit provides a grandstand view of the Mallerstang valley, with the distinctive flat-topped silhouette of Wild Boar Fell rising sharply to the north.
- •Nearby Grisedale was the setting for the 1975 documentary 'The Dale that Died', which chronicled the lives of the last traditional hill farmers working the slopes beneath these heights.
- •The designation of 'Pike' is perhaps an optimistic bit of nomenclature for a summit that consists of a sprawling, wind-scoured plateau where the highest point is often a matter of debate between several peat hags.