Fountains Fell[ Fell, from the Old Norse fjall, 'mountain', is used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in parts of England and Scandinavia.] is a mountain in the Yorkshire Dales, England. The main summit () has a height of and a relative height or topographic prominence of and thus qualifies as a Marilyn.
The eastern slopes of the fell form part of the National Trust's Malham Tarn and Moor estate.
History
The name
Fountains derives from ownership of the land in the 13th century by the
Cistercians monks of
Fountains Abbey ( to the east, near
Ripon), who used it for sheep grazing.
[ Coal was mined on the summit from 1790 to 1860, and was used for lead smelting in the area.][ There are various pits and shafts on and near the summit, and the remains of a coke oven building.]
Pennine Way
The Pennine Way crosses Fountains Fell about a third of a mile north of the summit. For the northbound walker this is from the start of the way at Edale, and is the first point where the way climbs higher than Kinder Scout's which was reached soon after the start. It is along the Pennine Way from Malham village to the summit of Fountains Fell, the route climbing up beside the dramatic cliffs of Malham Cove and passing Malham Tarn before climbing up the east side of the fell. The route continues down the western slopes of the fell and ascends the southern ridge of Pen-y-ghent, reached after : this summit of then supplants Fountains Fell as the highest point yet reached on the Pennine Way.
Caving
There are several caves of interest to caving on Fountains Fell, including Antler Hole, Dalehead Pot, Echo Hole, Fornagh Gill, Gingling Pot, Hammer Pot and Magnetometer Pot.
See also
-
Fountains Fell Tarn, a natural lake between the two peaks on Fountains Fell
External links
