[3] St Augustine of Canterbury is said to have blessed the hill when he arrived here on his travels so it became known as Cross Fell in the Christian tradition, although it has been speculated[by whom?]

The local terrain shows obvious evidence of recent glaciation and is covered by thin soil and acidic peat.

In some years, lying snow has been known to persist until July and fresh snowfall in June (mid-summer in the Northern Hemisphere) is common.

Local flora includes a number of rare alpine plants such as the Starry Saxifrage and a mountain Forget-me-not.

Local farmers are required to keep free-roaming sheep off the tops of the fells in order to avoid damaging the natural flora.

Most remarkably, it is claimed that it is visible in exceptional circumstances from the summit of Carnedd Llewelyn in Snowdonia (Wales) at a distance of 123 miles (198 kilometres).