The Benn [Sippling Crag]

About The Benn [Sippling Crag]

The Benn is a quiet, craggy outlier tucked away above the Shoulthwaite valley near Thirlmere. Often overshadowed by the neighboring Raven Crag, it offers a rugged hiking experience through bracken-heavy ground and rocky outcrops, providing a unique, secluded perspective of the Central Fells.

Key Statistics

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Did You Know?

• •The summit of The Benn is specifically identified as Sippling Crag, a rocky outcrop that distinguishes the highest point from the rest of the undulating ridge.
• •Geologically, the fell is formed from the Birker Fell Andesite Formation, a product of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group that gives the Central Fells their characteristically lumpy and rugged appearance.
• •The name 'Benn' is a linguistic survivor from the ancient Cumbric or Gaelic 'ben', meaning peak, reflecting the early Celtic influence on Lake District toponymy.
• •Just north of the summit lies the Shoulthwaite Gill hillfort, an Iron Age defensive site that utilized the naturally steep crags to minimize the need for man-made ramparts.
• •Navigating to the top often turns into a tactical battle with waist-high bracken and hidden bog-holes, leaving hikers to wonder if the 'summit' is actually just the next inconveniently placed lump of rock.