A list of mountain walking related terminology to suppport your map reading skills or wow your mates in the pub quiz ! As I uncover and learn new terms I’ll aim to update this list. Please use the comments below for any related banter or thoughts.
Beck: a small river, stream or brook – with a stony bed or following a rugged course. Example: Mires Beck near Glenridding.
Ben: Scottish Gaelic for ‘mountain’ and used in the names of mountains. Example: Ben Nevis
Bothy: A basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use. Example: Greg’s Hut (Pennine Way)
Bwlch: is a Welsh term that translates to ‘a pass’ in English. In the context of mountain walking it refers to a mountain pass or a gap between hills or mountains. It’s a low point on a ridge or saddle that provides a route through the mountains. Example: Bwlch Tryfan.
Cairn: A pile of stones, often used as a marker or to indicate the summit of a hill or mountain.
Crag: A steep or rugged cliff or rock face, often referenced in the context of rock climbing.
Fell: A high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or moor-covered hill, the term is particularly common in Northern England. Example: Fell running.
Glen: A Scottish term for a valley, often deep and with a river running through.
Knoll: A small hill or mound.
Munro: A Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters); named after Sir Hugh Munro, who first cataloged them.
Pinnacle: A sharp, steep peak or a pointed piece of rock on a mountain. Example: Napes Needle (Great Gable)
Plateau: An area of relatively level high ground, usually elevated sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side.
Ridge: A long, narrow elevated landform, often leading to a peak. Example: Striding Edge (Helvellyn)
Scramble: A route that involves climbing over (or up) rocks using you’re hands and feet, often less technical than rock climbing but more challenging than a walk. Example: Crib Goch (Snowdon)
Scree: A slope covered with loose stones or small rocks.
Summit: The highest point of a mountain.
Tarn: a small(ish) mountain lake. Example: Sprinkling Tarn (Lake District)
Tor: A high rock or pile of rocks on a hill. Example: Higger Tor (Peak District)
Trig Point: A fixed concrete structure used in surveying, often located on a hill or mountain summit.
Wainwright: A hill or mountain in the Lake District, listed in Alfred Wainwright’s “Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
