Mickle Fell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mickle Fell |
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Western side of Mickle Fell
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,585 ft (788 m) |
| Prominence | c. 690 ft |
| Parent peak | Cross Fell |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt, County Top, Nuttall |
| Geography | |
 Mickle Fell
Location in County Durham
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| Location | Pennines, England |
| OS grid | NY804243 |
| Topo map | OS Landrangers 91, 92 |
Mickle Fell is a tall mountain in the Pennines. The Pennines are a long chain of hills and moors. They run through the middle of Northern England. This mountain is 2,585 feet (788 m) high. It is a bit away from the main water divide of the Pennines. It is about ten miles south of another mountain called Cross Fell. Mickle Fell is the second highest Marilyn in the North Pennines. This area is a special "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)".
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Where is Mickle Fell?
Mickle Fell is the highest point in the historic county of Yorkshire. It is part of southern Teesdale. This area used to be in the North Riding of Yorkshire. But it was moved to County Durham in 1974. This happened because of a law called the Local Government Act 1972. So, Mickle Fell is now also the highest point in the Durham area. The highest point in the historic County Durham is Burnhope Seat. It is between Teesdale and Weardale.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name Mickle Fell comes from an old language. It is from the Old Norse words mikill and fell. Mikill means "great". Fell (or fjall) means "mountain" or "hill". So, Mickle Fell means "Great Mountain".
The Landscape Around Mickle Fell
Mickle Fell is in the middle of a large, wet moorland area. It takes a long hike to reach it from any direction. Mickle Fell has a special shape. This makes it easy to spot from far away. You can see it from the Lake District hills. These include Blencathra, the Helvellyn range, and High Street. South of Mickle Fell, the land goes down to the Stainmore Gap. Then it rises again into the Yorkshire Dales.
Accessing Mickle Fell
Mickle Fell and the land around it are part of the Warcop Training Area. This is a Ministry of Defence firing range. Because of this, people cannot always visit the mountain. It is not as often visited by hillwalkers as other important mountains in Yorkshire. You can climb it from the Eden Valley in the west. Or you can climb it from Teesdale in the east.
What is a Marilyn?
Marilyns are not very common in the North Pennines. This is because the moors there are quite flat. But Mickle Fell is a Marilyn. A Marilyn is a hill that rises at least 200 meters (about 656 feet) above the land around it. This is called its relative height. Mickle Fell stands out from its neighbours by more than 200 meters.
