Blencathra, Mountain peak in Lake District, England
Blencathra is a 868-meter peak in the northeastern section of the Lake District mountains, with six separate summit zones across its ridges. The southern slopes are rocky and steep, while the northern faces are gentler and shaped by long ridge formations.
The name comes from an old Celtic language and means roughly 'summit of the seat'. It was previously called Saddleback on older maps before taking its current name.
The Field Studies Centre at its base hosts talks and displays about the natural world, showing how local communities understand and live with these mountains. Visitors can explore collections that tell stories about how people have connected with this landscape over time.
Multiple routes lead to the summit, some crossing sharp ridges like Sharp Edge and Halls Fell Ridge that call for scrambling skills and suit experienced hikers. Gentler paths are available for those wanting to avoid exposed terrain and technical climbing.
The mountain features a long curving ridge that stretches for several kilometers with contrasting landscapes on each side. This distinctive shape made it tricky to map in the past and led to different names appearing on older charts.
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