   thumb|upright=1.2|northern england and adjoining areas, showing the general extent of the pennines  the pennines  are a range of mountains and hills separating north west england from yorkshire and north east england. often described as the "backbone of england", the pennine hills form a more-or-less continuous range stretching northwards from the peak district in derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of lancashire and greater manchester, through the yorkshire dales past the cumbrian fells to the cheviot hills on the anglo-scottish border. north of the aire gap, the pennines' western spur into north lancashire forms the bowland fells, and south of the gap is a spur into east lancashire, comprising the rossendale fells and west pennine moors. the pennines are an important water catchment area with numerous reservoirs in the head streams of the river valleys. the region is widely considered to be one of the most scenic areas of the united kingdom.  the north pennines and nidderdale are designated areas of outstanding natural beauty (aonb), as are bowland and pendle hill.{{cite web|title=natural england - areas of outstanding natural beauty|publisher=natural england|url=
Hills_of_Northumberland Mountain_ranges_of_the_United_Kingdom Mountains_and_hills_of_Cumbria Mountains_and_hills_of_Derbyshire Mountains_and_hills_of_England Mountains_and_hills_of_Greater_Manchester Mountains_and_hills_of_Yorkshire Pennines Physiographic_provinces