Watch Hill is a small hill lying on the north-western fringe of the
Lake District
The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (or ''fells''), and its associations with William Wordswor ...
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 (a hill with
topographic prominence of at least 150m) because of the large height separation from its neighbours. This 'detachedness' means that it is an excellent viewpoint.
Skiddaw
Skiddaw is a mountain in the Lake District National Park in England. Its summit is the sixth-highest in England. It lies just north of the town of Keswick, Cumbria, and dominates the skyline in this part of the northern lakes. It is the ...
,
Blencathra, the
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
The North Western Fells occupy the ...
group and
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 (2593 feet) it is the 40th-highest Wainwright in th ...
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
Slate Fell is a low hill in the North Western part of the England, 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 abou ...
.
Wainwright recommends an ascent from the west and a return on the same route. He comments that "It is easily attained with a minimum of effort: a stroll on grass so simple that boots are incongruous footwear for it and bare feet appropriate".
References
Marilyns of England
Fells of the Lake District
Cockermouth
{{Cumbria-geo-stub