Birks Fell

Mountain in North Yorkshire, England

Birks Fell

Frozen Peat on Birks Fell

Highest point
Elevation| 610 m (2,000 ft)
Parent peak| Pen-y-ghent
Listing| Marilyn
Coordinates| 54°10′59″N 2°07′33″W﻿ / ﻿54.183°N 2.1259°W﻿ / 54.183; -2.1259
Geography

Birks Fell

North Yorkshire, England

Parent range| Southern Yorkshire Dales
OS grid| SD918763
Ruins on Birks Fell

Birks Fell is a hill in the Yorkshire Dales, near to Hubberholme in North Yorkshire, England.[1] It is classed as a Marilyn (a hill with topographic prominence of at least 150m). Birks Fell only became an official Marilyn in 2006 as it was resurveyed and discovered to be 610 metres (2,001 ft) and not 608 metres (1,995 ft) as previously thought. Books from the late 19th and early 20th centuries list the hill as being 2,001 feet (610 m)[2] and it is thought that in the conversion to metric, the hill lost some height.[3] This raises it above neighbouring Horse Head Moor (609 m), making it the Marilyn in place of Horse Head Moor.

Between the summit and a trig point (1 mile (1.6 km) to the south west) lies Birks Tarn, which is one or the largest tarns in the Yorkshire Dales. It is prevented form leaking through the bedrock underneath by its impermeable layers and additionally held back by the peaty soil.[4] The section at the top of the fell is a wide ridge that offers excellent walking and "outstanding views".[5]

The eastern slope of the fell was mined for lead between 1699 and 1815.[6] Ruined buildings that were formerly used in the metal winning process still dot the landscape.[7]

The name Birks derives from the Old Norse word for birch; the lower slopes of the hill used to be covered in them.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "OL30" (Map). Wensleydale & Swaledale. 1:25,000. Explorer. Ordnance Survey. 2016. ISBN 9780319263358.
2. ^ Hobson, Bernard (2013) [First published 1921]. West Riding of Yorkshire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 10\. ISBN 978-1-107-65757-1.
3. ^ a b Reid, Mark (16 May 2013). "Around Birks Fell" (PDF). The Northern Echo. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
4. ^ "Geology". wharfedale-nats.org.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
5. ^ Smith, Jonathan (14 December 2018). "A shy and retiring mountain". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 50–2018. p. 38\. ISSN 2516-5348.
6. ^ "Yorkshire Smelting Mills". nmrs.org.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
7. ^ "Buckden Low Mill". nmrs.org. Retrieved 22 January 2019.

* v
* t
* e

Marilyns of Northern England

1\. Northumberland|

* The Cheviot
* Housedon Hill
* Long Crag
* Peel Fell
* Ros Hill
* Shillhope Law
* Sighty Crag
* Tosson Hill

2\. Northern Lakeland|

* Binsey
* Blencathra
* Knott
* Skiddaw

3\. Western Lakeland|

* Blake Fell
* Dale Head
* Dent
* Grasmoor
* Great Gable
* Grisedale Pike
* High Stile
* Kirk Fell
* Lord's Seat
* Low Fell
* Mellbreak
* Pillar
* Robinson
* Seatallan
* Swinside
* Watch Hill

4\. Central and
Southern Lakeland|

* Black Combe
* Claife Heights
* Coniston Old Man
* Hard Knott
* Harter Fell
* High Raise
* High Rigg
* Holme Fell
* Illgill Head
* Kirkby Moor
* Lingmoor Fell
* Loughrigg Fell
* Muncaster Fell
* Pike of Blisco
* Scafell Pike
* Top o' Selside
* Whitfell

5\. Eastern Lakeland|

* Arnside Knott
* Fairfield
* Grayrigg Forest
* Great Mell Fell
* Gummer's How
* Hallin Fell
* Helvellyn
* High Street
* Hutton Roof Crags
* Lambrigg Fell
* Little Mell Fell
* Place Fell
* Red Screes
* St Sunday Crag
* Seat Sandal
* Stony Cove Pike
* Tarn Crag
* Wansfell
* Whitbarrow

6\. North Pennines
and Durham|

* Burnhope Seat
* Cold Fell
* Cross Fell
* Dufton Pike
* Mickle Fell

7\. Northern Yorkshire Dales|

* Baugh Fell
* The Calf
* Great Shunner Fell
* Hoove
* Kisdon
* Nine Standards Rigg
* Rogan's Seat
* Wild Boar Fell
* Yarlside

8\. Southern Yorkshire Dales|

* Aye Gill Pike
* Birks Fell
* Buckden Pike
* Calf Top
* Cracoe Fell
* Dodd Fell Hill
* Fountains Fell
* Great Coum
* Great Knoutberry Hill
* Great Whernside
* Ingleborough
* Pen-y-ghent
* Rombald's Moor
* Sharp Haw
* Whernside

9\. North York Moors
to the Humber|

* Bishop Wilton Wold
* Cringle Moor
* Gisborough Moor
* Urra Moor

10\. Forest of Bowland|

* Easington Fell
* Fair Snape Fell
* Longridge Fell
* Ward's Stone
* White Hill

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