North Pennines
Yockenthwaite Moor
643M
2110FT
About Yockenthwaite Moor
Sitting high above Upper Wharfedale, this sprawling peat-clad plateau offers a quiet sense of Pennine isolation. Often overlooked for nearby Buckden Pike, the terrain is characteristically boggy, requiring careful navigation across hags. The rewards are expansive, featuring clear views across to the distinctive profiles of Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent.
Key Statistics
Rank
64th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Yorkshire Dales
Prominence
?
89m
Nearest Town
North Yorkshire
Geology
The ground here is formed from a layer of sandstone known as Lower Howgate Edge Grit. This durable stone creates the rugged foundation beneath your feet.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD909810
Latitude
54.2246°N
Longitude
2.1411°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Yockenthwaite is a linguistic hybrid, combining the Old Norse 'thveit' (a clearing) with the Gaelic personal name Eogan, reflecting the diverse Norse-Gaelic settlers who once farmed these high valleys.
- •Navigation across the plateau is aided by a historic line of boundary stones known as 'The Stakes', which mark the divide between different estates on the otherwise featureless moorland.
- •Although its summit is modest and relatively flat, it is officially classified as a Hewitt and a Nuttall, making it a required peak for those aiming to climb every 2,000ft mountain in England and Wales.
- •To the south-east, the moor provides an exceptional perspective down the U-shaped glacial trough of Wharfedale, while the distant Howgill Fells near Sedbergh are often visible on the north-western horizon.
- •If you manage to traverse the summit plateau without a boot-full of peat-stained water, you have either mastered levitation or visited during a once-in-a-century drought.