North Pennines
Blea Barf
542M
1778FT
About Blea Barf
Rising above the Mallerstang valley near Kirkby Stephen, this rugged 542-metre shoulder of Wild Boar Fell offers a quiet alternative to the busier main summits. Its limestone-strewn slopes provide a steep but rewarding climb with clear lines of sight across the deep trench of the River Eden toward the high plateau of High Seat.
Key Statistics
Rank
144th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
27m
Nearest Town
Gunnerside
Geology
Blea Barf is built from layers of hard sandstone, limestone, and flint-like chert. These sturdy rocks form the rugged foundation beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD955962
Latitude
54.3613°N
Longitude
2.0708°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'blár' and 'berg', meaning 'dark hill' or 'blue hill', reflecting the strong Viking influence on the nomenclature of the Mallerstang area.
- •While often overlooked in favour of its higher neighbour, Wild Boar Fell, Blea Barf provides an excellent vantage point to study the Settle-Carlisle Railway as it snakes through the valley floor below.
- •The summit offers a particularly clear perspective of Mallerstang Edge and the hidden valley of Hellgill, where the infant River Eden begins its journey north toward the Solway Firth.
- •The term 'Barf' is a local Cumbrian and Pennine dialect word for a detached, steep-sided hill or ridge; despite the modern phonetic connotation, it refers strictly to the topography and not the physical state of the climber.