Wild Boar Fell is a fine peak towering above the Mallerstang valley which runs between Kirkby Stephen and Garsdale.
- Summit is 708m (2323ft) - the 4th highest peak in the Yorkshire Dales
- A tough walk with boggy areas and less defined paths
- A series of major cairns line the summit ridge
- The Settle to Carlisle railway line winds through the valley below
Wild Boar Fell is a superb peak which dominates the views around the Mallerstang valley. It gets its name from the wild boar that used to be found in the area and legend has it that the last boar to be killed was on its slopes. The Fell has steep sides but a broad summit ridge. The classic route up the Fell follows the bridleway from Hazelgill Farm and then follows the ridge to the summit. It is then best to continue on over Swarth Fell to descend to Aisgill Cottages.
Although many cairns (piles of stone) were built to aid navigation, the stone pillars found on Wild Boar Fell are of a different scale. Similar structures can be found on other hills in the area and, although no one knows for certain who built them or why, a popular story is that they were built to make Scott's raiders think they were being watched from on high.
