Fremington Edge
Fremington Edge is a wall of crags and scree slopes three miles long forming the northern edge of Arkengarthdale, at the bottom of the dale until it joins Swaledale at the village of Reeth, sitting at the meeting of the two rivers with the Edge glowering down at it across the river to the north.
Fremington, the tiny village from which the Edge is named, sits immediately beneath its slope at the south end of the Fremington Edge, as it reaches the River Swale.
The Fremington Edge is in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Throughout its full length the Edge stays above the height of 1,300 feet and reaches a highest point of 1,552 feet at the northern end of the escarpment.
Geography
Fremington Edge was formed after the last Ice age when melt water from the retreating glaciers caused a landslip and exposed the rocky outcrops.
The Edge is scattered with remains of old lead mines and there are many disused shafts and spoil heaps. Some of these old workings are dangerous and care should be taken. A footpath and a solid Dry-stone wall|dry stone wall stretch the entire length of the Edge with the heather clad Marrick Moor extending away to the east. Midway along are the remains of a disused radio mast
Ascent
The Edge can be climbed either from Reeth, Langthwaite or Fremington.
The ascent from Langthwaite goes by an old lane past the hamlet of Booze and the old farmhouse of Storthwaite Hall before winding steeply up through the disused workings of the Fell End Lead Mine to reach the highest point. The climb from Fremington utilises the well graded old road (now just a stony track) to Hurst, which passes the whitewashed farmhouse of the White House, a well seen landmark from Reeth.
The climb from the popular tourist village of Reeth is quite hard going: a path goes directly up the steep escarpment from Arkle Beck to reach the Edge.
The view from the summit cairn at the northern end of the Edge gives an excellent view of Arkengarthdale, with Calver Hill also well seen. The southern end of the Edge gives an impressive aerial view of the village of Reeth.
Location
- Location map: 54°24’21"N, 1°56’44"W
