North Pennines
Hard Rigg
546M
1791FT
About Hard Rigg
Rising from the remote moorland of the North Pennines, this 546-metre Tump is defined by its isolation and typical Pennine terrain. Characterised by rough grass and peat hags, the summit offers a windswept sense of scale, looking out across the high, rolling watershed between the South Tyne and Weardale.
Key Statistics
Rank
140th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Pennines
Prominence
?
45m
Nearest Town
Alston
Geology
Hard Rigg is built from the Stainmore Formation, a blend of mudstone, sandstone, and limestone that forms the ground beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY749487
Latitude
54.8325°N
Longitude
2.3923°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old Norse 'hryggr', meaning a long ridge or back, paired with the descriptor 'Hard'—likely a reference to firmer ground found here amidst the notoriously soft and boggy surrounding peat moors.
- •From the summit, the view west is dominated by the massive bulk of the higher Pennines, including the distinctive 'golf ball' radar station atop Great Dun Fell and the high plateau of Cross Fell.
- •Positioned in the North Pennines, the hill sits in a quiet corner of the Eastern Fells where walkers are far more likely to encounter golden plover or red grouse than other people.
- •In these parts, the term 'ridge' is used loosely; on a misty day, the primary challenge isn't the incline, but successfully navigating the labyrinth of peat hags without disappearing to your knees.