Parson's Pulpit

Located in the Southern Fells of the Yorkshire Dales, this 538m Hump is the crowning point of a vast limestone plateau. The approach involves crossing classic karst terrain, where dry stone walls bisect a landscape of shake holes and thin grass. The summit trig pillar provides a sense of immense, windswept space.

• •The name likely refers to the hill's prominence as a natural 'preaching' spot, a common naming convention in the Pennines for hills that overlook several valleys or parishes.
• •The summit trig point offers a clear perspective of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with the distinctive crouched-lion shape of Pen-y-ghent clearly visible to the northwest and the sprawling mass of Fountains Fell to the west.
• •The plateau around the summit is peppered with shake holes—conical depressions caused by the collapse of limestone caves beneath the surface—which are a signature feature of this karst landscape.
• •Finding the actual highest point can be a minor test of faith; the plateau is so broad and level that the trig pillar often feels like the only thing preventing the hill from being perfectly flat.