Watch Hill (Cockermouth)
Encyclopedia
Watch Hill is a small hill lying on the north-western fringe of the Lake District
in England
. The name Setmurthy Common is sometimes used (including by Alfred Wainwright
in his book The Outlying Fells of Lakeland) to refer to the area including the highest point, with "Watch Hill" describing the area to the west of the summit. It should not be confused with another Watch Hill
some 19 km to the south-west, near Whitehaven
, which is only 172 m (564 ft) high. The name "The Hay" is also used when referring to the area west of the summit.
Despite its low height (just 833 feet) it is a Marilyn
because of the large height separation from its neighbours. This 'detachedness' means that it is an excellent viewpoint. Skiddaw
, Blencathra
, the Lord's Seat
group and Grisedale Pike
are all seen, and there is a first-class view of the Cockermouth
area and the Solway Coast AONB.
The hill is a popular climb with Cockermouth folk, along with its lower neighbour Slate Fell
.
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name Setmurthy Common is sometimes used (including by Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
in his book The Outlying Fells of Lakeland) to refer to the area including the highest point, with "Watch Hill" describing the area to the west of the summit. It should not be confused with another Watch Hill
Watch Hill (Whitehaven)
Watch Hill is a small hill lying on the western fringe of the Lake District in England. It should not be confused with another Watch Hill some 19 km to the north-east, near Cockermouth, which is classified as a Marilyn....
some 19 km to the south-west, near Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, which is only 172 m (564 ft) high. The name "The Hay" is also used when referring to the area west of the summit.
Despite its low height (just 833 feet) it is a Marilyn
Marilyn (hill)
A Marilyn is a mountain or hill in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or Isle of Man with a relative height of at least 150 metres , regardless of absolute height or other merit...
because of the large height separation from its neighbours. This 'detachedness' means that it is an excellent viewpoint. Skiddaw
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. With a summit at 931 m above sea level it is the fourth highest mountain in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes...
, Blencathra
Blencathra
Blencathra, also known as Saddleback, is one of the most northerly mountains in the English Lake District. It has six separate fell tops, of which the highest is the Hallsfell Top.-Name:...
, the Lord's Seat
Lord's Seat
Lord's Seat is a fell in the English Lake District. It is the highest of the group of hills north of Whinlatter Pass in the North Western Fells. The slopes of Lord's Seat are extensively forested.-Topography:...
group and Grisedale Pike
Grisedale Pike
Grisedale Pike is a fell in the Lake District, Cumbria, England situated west of the town of Keswick in the north-western sector of the national park. At a height of 791 m it is the 40th highest Wainwright in the Lake District; it also qualifies as a Hewitt, Marilyn and Nuttall...
are all seen, and there is a first-class view of the Cockermouth
Cockermouth
-History:The Romans created a fort at Derventio, now the adjoining village of Papcastle, to protect the river crossing, which had become located on a major route for troops heading towards Hadrian's Wall....
area and the Solway Coast AONB.
The hill is a popular climb with Cockermouth folk, along with its lower neighbour Slate Fell
Slate Fell
Slate Fell is a low hill in the North Western part of the English Lake District. It lies only about a mile from the busy market town of Cockermouth, and as such is a popular walk for local dog walkers, the amount of climb being only about 80 metres . A public right of way passes over the summit...
.