Backstone Edge

Situated on the high, wild ridge above Mallerstang, this broad Nuttall offers a quiet, peat-clad alternative to the busier Dales peaks. While its terrain is often boggy, the reward is a sense of immense isolation and a commanding perspective over the Eden Valley towards the distant Lake District fells.

• •The name is likely a reference to the local 'backstones' — flat slabs of rock traditionally used in Northern kitchens for baking oatcakes or 'fars' over the hearth.
• •This summit sits on the primary watershed of Northern England; rain falling on its western slopes feeds the River Eden toward the Irish Sea, while eastern runoff eventually reaches the North Sea via the Swale.
• •The ascent is most often combined with High Seat, following a high-level traverse that offers an uninterrupted look at the Settle-Carlisle railway snaking through the valley floor far below.
• •From the summit, the view across the deep trench of Mallerstang Dale is dominated by the massive, flat-topped profile of Wild Boar Fell and the distinctive limestone scars of Fel End.
• •Navigating the peat hags on the plateau is an excellent way to test the structural integrity of your gaiters and your patience in equal measure.