Dent (fell) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dent |
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Cairn on the western slopes of Dent
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 352 m (1,155 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 175 m |
| Parent peak | Pillar |
| Listing | Marilyn, Outlying Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Dent
Location in Lake District
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| OS grid | NY041129 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89 |
Dent is a small hill, also called a fell, located on the edge of England's beautiful Lake District. It's close to the towns of Cleator Moor and Egremont. Sometimes, people call it Long Barrow. For many hikers, Dent is the first fell they see when starting Wainwright’s famous Coast to Coast Walk. This walk goes all the way across England! Dent sits on the western side of the Lake District National Park.
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About Dent Fell
Dent may be small, but it offers amazing views. Its highest point is 352 metres (1,155 feet) above sea level. From the top, you can see the whole Cumbrian coast. Look south to the Ravenglass estuary or north to the Solway Firth and even Scotland.
Incredible Views
On a clear day, you can easily spot the Isle of Man to the west. If you look east, you'll see the tall peaks of Pillar and the Sca Fells. These are some of the highest mountains in England.
History and Surveys
Dent Hill was important for early map-making. In the years leading up to 1809, it was one of five spots in Cumberland used by the Ordnance Survey. They measured angles from these points to create the first detailed maps of Britain. Other spots included Black Combe and Cross Fell.
Nature and Trails
Over the last 20 years, a new forest has been planted on the northern slopes of Dent. This was done to help stop the ground from wearing away, a process called erosion. There's already an older, grown-up forest on the southern side of the fell. You can reach it through a gate at a place called Nannycatch.
Local Roads and Rivers
At the bottom of Dent, there's a road locals call 'the fell road'. It connects Cleator Moor to Egremont. Even though it's not the best road and doesn't save time, people from the area still use it. The River Ehen also flows along the base of the fell, right next to this road.
Wainwright's Walks
Dent is featured in one of Wainwright’s popular books, The Outlying Fells of Lakeland. In this book, he describes a circular walk that includes Dent and another nearby hill called Flat Fell. His suggested route for these two hills starts at Wath Brow.
