Great Dun Fell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Dun Fell |
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The radar station on the summit
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 848 m (2,782 ft) |
| Prominence | 76 m (249 ft) |
| Parent peak | Cross Fell |
| Listing | Hewitt, Nuttall |
| Geography | |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Pennines |
| OS grid | NY710321 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 91 |
Great Dun Fell is a mountain in England. It stands 848 metres (2,782 feet) tall. This makes it the second-highest mountain in the Pennines mountain range. It's located about two miles south of Cross Fell, which is an even taller mountain.
Great Dun Fell has a smaller twin mountain called Little Dun Fell, which is 842 metres (2,762 feet) high. Both mountains are part of the famous Pennine Way walking path. This path climbs up from the village of Dufton. Great Dun Fell is found in the area known as Cumbria.
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The Radar Station on Great Dun Fell
At the very top of Great Dun Fell, there is a special building called a radar station. This station is run by National Air Traffic Services. It plays a very important role in controlling airplanes flying over Northern England and Southern Scotland.
The radar station has a large, round dome called a radome. Inside this dome are special antennas. These antennas help track planes. There are also other towers and fences around the top of the mountain. A writer named Alfred Wainwright didn't like the old radio station that was there before. It was removed in the 1980s.
Britain's Highest Road
To build the radar station, a special road was made to the summit. This road is covered in tar and is the highest road in Britain! It starts near the village of Knock. The road is private, so regular cars are not allowed on it.
However, parts of this road are a bridleway. This means that people can use it for walking, cycling, and horse riding. It's a great way to reach the top and see the views.
Studying Clouds at Great Dun Fell
The University of Manchester used to have a special place on Great Dun Fell. It was a weather observatory. Scientists used it to study clouds and how they mix with pollution.
The mountain is a perfect spot for this research. That's because it's often covered in clouds for about two-thirds of the year! The university can still use the site for shorter research projects.
Old Mining History
On the sides of Great Dun Fell, you can still see signs of old mining. These are called hushing gulleys. They were made a long time ago during the Industrial Revolution. Miners used water to wash away soil and find lead ore.
Climate on the Mountain
Great Dun Fell has a tundra climate. This means it's usually quite cold. In July, the average temperature is just below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
Even in winter, the daytime temperatures often stay above freezing. This is quite unusual for a tundra climate. The Met Office (the UK's weather service) tracks the temperatures here. The fact that night-time lows average 1.7 degrees Celsius (35.1 degrees Fahrenheit) all year shows how much the sea around Britain affects the weather. It keeps the mountain from getting too hot in summer and too cold in winter.
