North Pennines
Cuns Fell
539M
1768FT
About Cuns Fell
Standing as a bold, grassy sentinel on the edge of the North Pennines escarpment, this hill offers an expansive terrace overlooking the Eden Valley. It is often overshadowed by the higher Melmerby Fell, but its western position provides an unobstructed panorama of the Lake District’s eastern fells, from Blencathra to Helvellyn.
Key Statistics
Rank
147th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
30m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
You are trekking across fine siltstone and gritty sandstone. These rocks of the Murton and Ravenstonedale groups form the sturdy foundation of the fell.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY647367
Latitude
54.7240°N
Longitude
2.5496°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is thought to originate from the Old English personal name 'Cuna', marking it as 'Cuna’s Fell' during early medieval settlement in the Eden Valley.
- •The fell sits in the heart of the 'Helm Wind' zone; this is the only named wind in the British Isles, a fierce downslope blast that occurs when a 'Helm Bar' cloud forms over the North Pennines escarpment.
- •A common approach begins in the village of Melmerby, following an old walled track that climbs steeply onto the fell’s western shoulder to reveal sudden, expansive views.
- •Looking west across the Vale of Eden, the summit provides a clear sightline to the sharp profile of Blencathra and the high ridges of the Helvellyn range.
- •Despite its modest height, the fell’s position on the very lip of the western escarpment makes it feel much higher than the map suggests—at least until you look back at the massive bulk of Melmerby Fell behind you.