NY3925 : Tree on the northern face of Great Mell Fell
Moderate; rough, boggy paths and ascent

Great Mell Fell

537m Elevation
201m Prominence
England Country
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NY3925 : Tree on the northern face of Great Mell Fell

Graham Robson Photo source

Overview

Great Mell Fell

Great Mell Fell is a rounded Lakeland hill near Troutbeck and north of Ullswater. The current primary record gives 536.6 m height and 200.7 m prominence. It is a Wainwright and Marilyn, distinct from nearby Little Mell Fell. Primary hill record

Rock and summit

The hill is formed from Mell Fell Conglomerate, a sedimentary deposit containing fragments of older rocks. British Geological Survey considers a Late Devonian age likely, while noting that the lack of fossils makes the dating tentative. Ancient alluvial fans and braided rivers deposited the material. BGS geological account

A cairn marks the summit area at NY 39682 25367. A prehistoric bowl barrow also survives here. Treat the mound and stones carefully and avoid altering the archaeological remains. National Trust heritage record

Complete return walk

The featured 3.5 km out-and-back starts and finishes at NY407246 on the southeast side. Ascend through woodland to the broad ridge and summit, then retrace the approach. Optional wandering through the woods is outside this route total. Elizabeth Oldham’s full route

Expect wet ground and limited roadside parking. Carry food, water and suitable navigation for changing weather. Sources checked 18 October 2026; no personal on-foot inspection is claimed.

Explore routes near Great Mell Fell

Walks starting near this hill. Open a route to check its map, distance and full itinerary.

Bannerdale Crags from Mungrisdale Wainwright

6.9 km ~2h Moderate

View route

Helvellyn via Striding Edge

11.2 km ~6h Hard

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Striding Edge, Helvellyn and Catstye Cam

12 km ~6h 30m Hard

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Mungrisdale Common and Bowscale Fell from Mosedale Valley Wainwright

13.4 km ~6h Hard

View route

Route planning notes

These notes describe possible approaches. Check a route's map and access information when planning your walk.

Great Mell Fell from the southeast, out and back

Start and finish at the rough roadside pull-in at NY407246. Follow the track past the first National Trust gate, use the second gate or adjacent stile, then climb beside the fence. Fork right as the trees thin and follow the broad ridge to the summit cairn and barrow. Return by the same route to the pull-in. WalkLakes gives 3.5 km for this complete out-and-back; optional woodland exploration is excluded. Full directions: https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_113.html

3.5 km Moderate; rough, wet paths and uphill walking
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Hill facts and local notes

Classifications

Marilyn Dodd Dewey Wainwright Birkett Synge Fellranger

Elevation

537m

1,760 ft

Prominence

201m

Coordinates

54.6199, -2.9356

NY396253

OS Map

90

Explorer: OL5S

At the Summit

The primary record identifies a cairn at the 536.6 m summit, NY 39682 25367. The summit also contains a prehistoric bowl barrow; the cairn and archaeological mound should not be disturbed.

Terrain & Geology

Lower woodland and bracken give way to tussocky grass on the broad upper ridge; paths can be wet and boggy.

Great Mell Fell is formed from Mell Fell Conglomerate, a sedimentary rock containing fragments of older volcanic and sedimentary rocks. British Geological Survey considers a Late Devonian age likely but tentative; the deposits formed in alluvial fans and braided river channels.

Views & Scenery

Blencathra and Bannerdale Crags are prominent from the top, with views towards the Helvellyn range and across to Little Mell Fell, subject to visibility.

History & Heritage

Historical Significance

A prehistoric bowl barrow survives on the summit. National Trust’s heritage record classifies it as Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age and includes a 2024 Oxford Archaeology landscape survey.

Getting There & Facilities

Parking

Small rough roadside pull-in at NY407246, southeast of the fell, used by the featured route. Space is very limited; do not block the lane or gates.

Safety Information

Known Hazards

  • Beware of sudden weather changes common in the Lake District. The paths can be slippery when wet, and mist can obscure visibility.

General Safety Tips

  • Check weather conditions before setting out
  • Carry appropriate clothing and equipment
  • Let someone know your planned route
  • Take a map, compass, and GPS device
  • Carry emergency supplies: food, water, first aid kit, torch

Hills

Some common questions about the hills answered

Are there group walks up Great Mell Fell?

Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around Great Mell Fell through the maps

Are there other walkers around Great Mell Fell?

Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for Great Mell Fell search or of course create your own walk for Great Mell Fell

Can I organise a walk to Great Mell Fell?

Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.

If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to Great Mell Fell.

How do I find a walk up this hill?

There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.

Can I suggest a new route up Great Mell Fell?

Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.

Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to Great Mell Fell here

The is an error or something incorrect about this hill. How do I let you know?

We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible

Location

Great Mell Fell location map

Grid reference: NY396253

View on OpenStreetMap

Opens a map in a new tab, centred on the hill.

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