Currock Hill

About Currock Hill

Currock Hill is less a rugged peak and more an elevated pasture that happens to have ideas above its station. Primarily known for hosting the Northumbria Gliding Club, it offers sweeping views across the Tyne Valley to anyone who doesn't mind sharing the summit with a hangar.

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Did You Know?

• •The summit serves as the operational base for the Northumbria Gliding Club, which utilizes the reliable thermals rising from the nearby Tyne Valley. It is one of the few fells where you are likely to be overtaken by a silent aircraft while you are standing perfectly still.
• •Geographically, this hill sits on the eastern fringe of the North Pennines, acting as a transition point between the industrial North East and the wilder high moors. The local geology is defined by Carboniferous strata that historically supported the region's vast coal and lead mining industries.
• •The nearby village of Hedley on the Hill was famously the home of the 'Hedley Kow,' a mischievous shapeshifting spirit from local folklore. These days, the only shapeshifting you will see is a hiker trying to look athletic while actually just leaning heavily on a fence.
• •At its modest height, the hill qualifies as a 'TuMP,' a category for hills with at least a thirty-meter prominence. It is the ideal destination for peak baggers who prefer their summits to be conveniently located within walking distance of a warm pub.
• •The gradient is so underwhelming that you may find yourself reaching the trig point before you have even finished complaining about the weather. It is likely the only fell where the most significant navigational hazard is the risk of a low-flying glider interrupting your ham sandwich.