Burnhope Seat

About Burnhope Seat

Rising above the head of Weardale, this expansive North Pennine plateau offers a rugged sense of isolation. Characterised by deep peat hags and wild moorland, the summit provides a wide perspective over the Eden Valley towards the Lake District fells, with the neighbouring mass of Mickle Fell dominating the southern skyline.

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Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Old English 'burna', meaning a stream, and 'hop', a term common in the North Pennines for a small, enclosed valley. The 'Seat' refers to its position as the high ground overlooking the valley where the Burnhope Burn rises.
• •It is the historic county top of County Durham. Since the 1974 boundary changes, the summit sits directly on the border with Cumbria, and it now shares the title of the highest point in the modern county of Durham with Mickle Fell.
• •The northern slopes host Yad Moss, one of England's few dedicated ski areas. Operated by volunteers, it features a fast Poma lift and nearly 600 metres of runs, though skiing depends entirely on the unpredictable Pennine snow cover.
• •Hill baggers often combine this Marilyn with a visit to nearby Deadman Hill. The traverse requires careful navigation through a complex landscape of 'hags'—eroded peat channels that can be waist-deep and incredibly taxing to cross in wet weather.
• •From the summit, the view west is dominated by the 'Golf Ball' radar station on Great Dun Fell and the long, dramatic escarpment that falls away towards the Eden Valley and Appleby-in-Westmorland.
• •The terrain is so notoriously soft that a successful summit visit often depends more on the structural integrity of your gaiters than the strength of your legs.