Tor Mere Top

About Tor Mere Top

Rising above the quiet reaches of Barbondale near Sedbergh, this broad, grassy dome offers a sense of profound isolation. Part of the Middleton Fells, its high plateau is characterized by peat hags and wide-open skies, providing an exceptional perspective on the western flanks of Whernside and the deep trench of Dentdale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'torr', meaning a rocky peak or outcrop, combined with 'mere', referring to a pool or boundary marker—a nod to the small tarns that dot this high, peaty plateau.
• •Though situated close to the popular Howgill Fells, Tor Mere Top belongs to the Middleton Fells, a quieter massif defined by steep western escarpments and broad, rolling summits.
• •The summit offers a unique profile of the 'Big Three' Yorkshire peaks, with Whernside appearing particularly massive across the deep, hidden valley of Dentdale to the east.
• •On a clear afternoon, the view to the southwest extends beyond the Lune Valley to the silver flash of the Morecambe Bay sands and the distant silhouettes of the Lake District fells.
• •The 'Mere' in the name is a helpful reminder for walkers that, in the absence of a visible lake, the surrounding ground will happily provide enough standing water to soak through even the most optimistic of boots.