Totridge

About Totridge

Rising above the Hareden Valley, this broad, heather-clad fell offers a classic moorland experience. Its summit plateau is famously peaty and wild, providing a sense of isolation. From the top, the views across the Loud Valley towards the sharp profile of Parlick and the distant Yorkshire Dales are particularly striking.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely stems from the Old English 'tōt', meaning a lookout or watchplace, and 'hrycg', meaning ridge. This suggests the hill’s historical importance as a vantage point over the surrounding Forest of Bowland.
• •The summit provides a panoramic view of the Bowland fells, with the nearby Fairnape Fell and the steep descent into the Hareden Valley being particularly prominent. To the north, the distinctive shapes of Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent are clearly visible on a clear day.
• •The plateau is notorious among Lancashire walkers for its thick peat and 'groughs' (deep erosion channels). It remains one of the more rugged sections of the region, often requiring careful route-finding to avoid the deepest sections of the mire.
• •While many hills are prized for their solid footing, Totridge is best known for its ability to swallow a trekking pole whole; a seasoned local might suggest the summit is actually six inches lower than mapped, depending on how much rain fell the previous night.