Mickle Fell
788m (2586ft)
The North Pennines, County Durham, England
Mickle Fell is the highest point in the county of County Durham.
Mickle Fell is inside the Warcop Army Training Area. For safety reasons public access is restricted to public rights of way during non-firing days only. Access is only permitted on 12 weekends per year, which are publicly notified 12 months in advance. Information these weekends can be obtained by calling 0800 783 5181. For more details see: Walking on Mickle Fell.
The summit of Mickle Fell is marked by a huge cairn. Mickle Fell's Ordnance Survey Trig Point lies some 2.2km ENE of the summit.
You can find Mickle Fell & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Maps (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
Mickle Fell on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Map:
See Mickle Fell and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Map:
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 15.75ml (25km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,918ft (889m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Hilton Town Head - Hilton Beck - Warcop Training Area - Swindale Brow - Swindale Beck - Swindale Edge - Marn Gill - Christy Bank - Siss Gill - Burton Fell - Little Fell (Burton Fell) - Hilton Fell - Arnside Rake - King's Pot - Mickle Fell - Fisher Sike - Maize Beck - Swarth Beck - Master Sike - Murton Fell - Murton Fell (SE Top) - Scordale - Lowfield Hush - Hilton Town Head
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Mickle Fell
Caroline Winter walked up Mickle Fell on August 28th, 2021 [from/via/route] Windmore green, cattle grid South side, fence line to Mickle Fell, Little Fell. [with] Becky [weather] Very Warm, dry day - The walk destined to be a nightmare from the start…Pass granted in July, but daughter needed to self isolate due to a Covid Contact & I was feeling ill 3 months following AZ jab ! Pass granted for this weekend, so got an early start, but took detour as B6226 from Brough closed. Detour of 45 mins took us back to closed off road. Informed we would need to drive 60 miles to Teeside to get to cattle grid !!! Left car in side road & walked to start & got an extension from Warcop of exit time. Dry spell of weather made easier walking, so decided to go for Little Fell. (That's where it all went wrong-Little Fell entry)
Mark Hanley climbed Mickle Fell on July 7th, 2018 [from/via/route] Cow Green - With permit from MOD.
Kevin Foster bagged Mickle Fell on August 5th, 2017 [from/via/route] Linear route (two cars) from lay-by on B6276 near Grains of the Beck, Lunedale valley to Murton village (car park at north end of village), Eden valley Cumbria [with] Me and Bruce [weather] Sunny, with heavy showers until late afternoon then just sunny. - Mickle Fell lived up to all expectations & we were lucky to have a day with clear summits & an extensive 360 degree panorama. The route of ascent followed a quarry road to Fish Lake & then a shooters track via Close House crags & High Crag. Here we sheltered for a while in a grouse butt from a passing shower & had our lunch before making the final climb to the trig point at the eastern end of Mickle Fell's summit ridge. The next mile of easy walking on grass was a delight with excellent views all round. A huge pile of stones marked the fell's highest point at the western end of the ridge & was a great spot to take photos. I just wished I had brought a Yorkshire flag with me to reclaim the top for my home county. I had a lot of good banter with my friend Bruce (who is County Durham born & bred) about which county had the rightful claim to it...I think the result was a draw.
Darren Mortimer hiked Mickle Fell on July 9th, 2017 [from/via/route] Hilton [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Overcast with the odd sun & windy on the tops. - Shit walking
Mark Davidson summited Mickle Fell on November 16th, 2008 [with] Mike [weather] Lovely & sunny for November - First 'wild camp' in the van
Christine Shepherd conquered Mickle Fell on August 6th, 2016 [from/via/route] Walked from Hilton using walk c407 [with] On my own [weather] Fine & breezy. - A great mountain with a unmissable summit cairn unlike Little Fell.
Chris Faulkner scaled Mickle Fell on August 15th, 2015 [from/via/route] From Hilton, Micle Fell via Burton fell. [with] Michelle Chandler [weather] Bright, sunny with showers - Very long day. 17 miles. Boggy. Mountains littered with shells & shell holes.
Patrick Rogozinski has walked, climbed & bagged Mickle Fell.
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