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Yorkshire And The Humber

Halton Gill

Fountains Fell Summit Cairn

Yorkshire And The Humber

Halton Gill

Fountains Fell Summit Cairn

Highlight • Viewpoint

Fountains Fell Summit Cairn

Hiking

5.0

(10)

Running

5.0

(4)

Named for the Fountains Abbey some miles to the east, hiking up Fountains Fell is a particularly popular activity. The famous Pennine Way route ambles around the fell, not quite reaching the 797-foot (2,192 m) summit and its position makes it easy to enjoy a wide variety of walks.

Pen-y-Ghent, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, rises immediately north and adding it into your walk allows you to admire each fell from the other. One of the best things about hiking Fountains Fell is the feeling of utter remoteness you get. Deep in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, this fell has plenty of interesting features too.

With old mines and innumerable shake holes, its increasingly rocky ground requires more concentration than the otherwise grassy terrain might suggest. The large summit plateau is enlivened by the intriguing Fountains Fell Tarn and a clear day shows Ingleborough stacked behind Pen-y-Ghent.

Find camping throughout the nearby valleys and a youth hostel in Malham.

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Location: Halton Gill, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

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Tips

51m

November 5, 2022

Hiking

Lying a few hundred meters south of the Pennine Way trail, the true summit of Fountains Fell is at 668m. There are great views south across Malham or northwest towards Pen-y-Ghent.
Watch out for the sinkholes left over from mining in this area; it's advised that you stick to the paths.

51m

August 24, 2023

Running

The true summit of Fountains Fell at 668 m. Many people just tick the high point of the Pennine Way where it crosses the col, a few meters lower to the north-east. If you're running from Malham there is a great loop down the ridge from here but stay on the paths as there are a lot of sinkholes.

Oliver G

September 3, 2023

Hiking

Follow the faint boggy path from the Pennine Way to get to the true summit of Fountains Fell

Nearby routes

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Fountains Fell loop on the Pennine Way from Malham Tarn — Yorkshire Dales National Park

13.6km

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Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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#2.

Catrigg Force and Fountains Fell loop from Stainforth — Yorkshire Dales National Park

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Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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#3.