Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A landmark on the summit of a Yorkshire Dales hill has been rebuilt in a collaboration between the national park authority, a Rotary club and a local craftsman.

The shelter and triangulation pillar on Wild Boar Fell had fallen into disrepair over decades exposed to the elements more than 2,000ft above sea level.

The fell, overlooking the valley of Mallerstang, is in the area that recently became part of the Yorkshire Dales national park when it was extended.

For decades, the circular stone summit shelter has been little more than a rubble of fallen masonry and more recently the trig pillar it encloses had become a wreck.

An offer from Ravenstonedale stone-waller Richard Staley to rebuild the shelter was taken up by members of Upper Eden Rotary Club in Kirkby Stephen who undertook to rebuild the trig pillar and co-ordinate the project.

Mr Staley enlisted the help of his father Bernard, himself a skilled stone-waller. Despite living and farming at Bullgill at the foot of the fell until his retirement, the 80-year-old had never made the ascent to the summit.

The restored trig pillar and shelter

Retired builder and Rotary Club member Ray Thornton put his skills to work on rebuilding the pillar with fellow Rotarians Carl Hallam, Arthur Littlefair and mountain rescue volunteer Peter Cattermole.

They completed the restoration of the trig pillar with a day. National park ranger Calum Stott used his quad bike and trailer transport materials and kit to the top to enable the project to take place.

Project co-ordinator Arthur Littlefair said: “The whole thing was a model of co-operation between everyone involved, producing something of value giving pleasure to all those that make their way to the top of this splendid mountain.”

Julie Martin, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s member champion for cultural heritage, said: “Wild Boar Fell is a wonderful walking experience, which I have enjoyed with my family.

The delapidated shelter and pillar before the work took place

“The national park authority has struck up a fine partnership with the Rotary Club and it’s great that this historical feature of the fell has been restored. The trig pillar is a reminder that such constructions were used for mapping, while the wall which surrounds it will give shelter to people walking.”

Wild Boar Fell lies south of Kirkby Stephen in the Westmorland Dales extension of the national park. Its summit is 708m (2,323ft) above sea level and the route of the Pennine Bridleway national trail passes about 1km to the North at High Dolphinsty.