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Marilyns

The list of Marilyns was first published in 1992 by Alan Dawson in his book 'The Relative Hills of Britain'. The aim of the book was to compile a list of hills that were relatively high compared to their surrounding area regardless of actual height.

This approach was in contrast to most UK hill lists which start with a minimum height of 2000 or even 3000ft. The name is apparently an ironic contrast to the famous Munros of Scotland. To qualify as a Marilyn a hill must have a drop of at least 150m (492ft) on all sides. Thus a Marilyn can be anything from 150m upwards in height.

In practice this means that some well known hills and mountains are excluded in favour of some not quite so well known hills some of which seem to be no more than innocuous bumps.

This is also the case in the Pennines and Cheviots. In the Peak District, for example, Bleaklow misses out as do some of the North Pennine giants such as Great Dun Fell and Knock Fell. In fact it is something of a surprise that the whole of the North Pennines can only muster a total of 5 Marilyns.

Personally I think the list is great at identifying the main summits in some of the lower hill ranges in the country. On the other hand if you were to visit the Newlands Valley in the Lake District I doubt very much if people would seriously want to walk up Swinside (244m) when surrounded by so many impressive mountains.

As far as I know no one has actually completed the full list of UK Marilyns (mainly because there are two remote sea stacks 90 miles off the Scottish coast that qualify for the list) and few have even got close. Completing the full list of UK Marilyns is certainly not on my agenda however I do hope to visit all the Marilyns in the Pennines and Cheviots - an aim that I think is much more obtainable.

The list below only shows the Marilyns in the Cheviots and Pennines. For a full list of British Marilyns go to the Database of British Hills website.

Cheviot and Pennine Marilyns completed: 48 / 54 = 88.88%


Bowland & Pendle

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Ward's Stone 561 1841 SD592587 1
Pendle Hill 557 1827 SD804414 1, 2
White Hill 544 1785 SD673587 1
Fair Snape Fell 520 1706 SD597472 1
Easington Fell 396 1299 SD730486 1
Longridge Fell 350 1148 SD658410 1

Cheviots

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
The Cheviot 815 2674 NT909205 1
Peel Fell 602 1975 NY624997 1
Sighty Crag 520 1706 NY601809 None
Shillhope Law 501 1644 NT873096 None
Tosson Hill 440 1444 NZ005982 1
Long Crag 319 1047 NU062069 None
Ros Castle 315 1033 NU081253 1
Housedon Hill 266 873 NT902327 1

Howgills & Westmorland

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
The Calf 676 2218 SD667970 1, 2
Yarlside 639 2096 SD685985 1

North Pennines

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Cross Fell 893 2930 NY687343 1, 2
Mickle Fell 788 2585 NY804243 1, 2
Burnhope Seat 747 2451 NY785375 1
Cold Fell 621 2037 NY605556 1
Dufton Pike 481 1578 NY699266 1

Peak District

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Kinder Scout 636 2087 SK085875 1
Black Hill 582 1909 SE078047 1
Shining Tor 559 1833 SJ995737 None
Gun 385 1263 SJ970615 None
The Cloud 343 1125 SJ904636 None

South Pennines

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Boulsworth Hill 517 1696 SD929356 1
Ilkley Moor 402 1319 SE114452 1, 2, 3

West Pennines & Rossendale

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Hail Storm Hill 477 1565 SD835193 1
Winter Hill 456 1496 SD659149 1, 2
Freeholds Top 455 1493 SD906218 1

Yorkshire Dales

Name Metres Feet Grid Ref Visits
Whernside 736 2415 SD738814 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Ingleborough 724 2375 SD741745 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Great Shunner Fell 716 2349 SD848972 1, 2, 3, 4
Wild Boar Fell 708 2323 SD758988 1, 2, 3, 4
Great Whernside 704 2310 SE002739 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Buckden Pike 702 2303 SD960787 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Pen-y-Ghent 694 2277 SD838733 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Great Coum 687 2254 SD701835 1, 2, 3
Baugh Fell 678 2224 SD740916 1, 2
Lovely Seat 675 2215 SD879950 1, 2
Great Knoutberry Hill 672 2205 SD788871 1, 2
Rogan's Seat 672 2205 NY919030 1
Dodd Fell Hill 668 2192 SD840845 1, 2
Fountains Fell 668 2192 SD864715 1, 2, 3
Nine Standards Rigg 662 2172 NY825061 1, 2, 3
Birks Fell 610 2001 SD919764 1, 2, 3
Middleton Fell 609 1998 SD664856 1, 2
Rise Hill 556 1824 SD720886 1, 2
Hoove 554 1818 NZ003071 1
Cracoe Fell 508 1667 SD993588 1, 2, 3
Kisdon 499 1637 SD899998 1
Sharp Haw 357 1171 SD959552 1


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