North Pennines
Wold Fell
559M
1834FT
About Wold Fell
Tucked between the deep valleys of Garsdale and Dentdale, this broad moorland summit offers a quieter perspective on the Yorkshire Dales. The terrain is largely grassy and can be soft underfoot, but the elevation provides a clear, earned view across the Rawthey valley to the Howgill Fells and the massive bulk of Baugh Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
128th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
39m
Nearest Town
Westmorland and Furness
Geology
Wold Fell is built from sturdy limestone. These layers alternate with bands of sandstone and fine, clay-like rocks to form the foundation beneath your boots.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD790848
Latitude
54.2584°N
Longitude
2.3239°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Wold' derives from the Old English 'wald'; while originally meaning forest, it shifted in Middle English to describe the high, open, uncultivated moorland characteristic of this part of the Pennines.
- •The fell serves as a natural divide between two of the Dales' most celebrated valleys, with the northern slopes dropping into Garsdale and the southern flanks falling away toward Dentdale.
- •Many walkers approach the hill using the 'Coal Road', a high-level mountain track that connects Garsdale and Dent stations, originally used to transport locally mined coal to the surrounding settlements.
- •To the south, the summit offers a commanding view of the 'Three Peaks', with the stepped profile of Ingleborough standing out clearly against the skyline on a bright day.
- •To a walker from the south of England, the word 'Wold' might conjure images of gentle, rolling hills, but the local reality involves a far more rugged encounter with North Yorkshire peat hags.