Yorkshire Dales & Moors
Gisborough Moor
329M
1078FT
About Gisborough Moor
Rising above the village of Charltons, this Marilyn offers a sense of wild isolation in the North Pennines. Its plateau is defined by deep heather and peat, requiring steady footwork. Reaching the summit rewards walkers with specific views across the Tees Valley toward the high fells of the Lake District.
Key Statistics
Rank
11th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
151m
Nearest Town
Charltons
Geology
You are walking over layers of sandstone, limestone, and hardened mud. These stacked rocks form the sturdy, natural foundation of the moor beneath your feet.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NZ632124
Latitude
54.5031°N
Longitude
1.0249°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Old Norse personal name 'Ghighe' and the Old English 'burh', indicating a fortified settlement belonging to a Norse settler—a naming tradition frequent across Viking-influenced northern England.
- •The hill overlooks the historic mining community of Charltons; it was a significant site for the 19th-century ironstone industry, which left a legacy of old shafts and mineral railway beds in the surrounding area.
- •The summit offers a clear, earned view of the iconic cone of Roseberry Topping to the west, while the northern horizon is dominated by the industrial silhouette of the Tees Valley.
- •As a Marilyn—a hill with at least 150 metres of prominence—this moorland summit feels significantly more isolated than its 328-metre height suggests, standing as a prominent landmark above the surrounding lowlands.
- •Navigating the summit plateau often involves a strategic game of hopscotch between peat hags, as the ground remains notoriously 'aquatic' even after a short spell of dry weather.