Great Mell Fell

Great Mell Fell

Great Mell Fell is a rounded, largely grass-covered hill near Troutbeck, north of Ullswater. Its 536.6-metre summit stands apart from the main Lakeland ridges, giving it a different character from the long mountain chains farther west. It belongs to Wainwright's Eastern Fells and is also a Marilyn, with just over 200 metres of prominence.

The hill's appeal lies in the changes within a comparatively short climb. A lane-side start leads through bracken and scattered trees to open grassland, with a broad summit above the neighbouring fields. Little Mell Fell is a separate hill to the south-east, not a second summit on the same continuous ridge. Plan it as a distinct outing rather than assuming that a short walk over Great Mell automatically includes both.

Woodland and exposed upper slopes

The lower eastern slopes contain Routing Wood, where oak, rowan, birch, holly and Scots pine form mixed woodland. The transition to open fell is gradual: individual trees stand above the denser woods, some bent and shaped by exposure. Roots, fallen branches and uneven ground are part of the walking terrain rather than a maintained parkland surface.

The woodland supports animals including roe deer and badgers, and green woodpeckers nest here. A walk is not a guarantee of seeing any of them. Keeping dogs close, leaving dead wood undisturbed and giving grazing animals space helps protect the quieter parts of the fell.

Higher up, tussocky grass and wet hollows replace much of the woodland. The broad summit opens towards Blencathra and the ridges around Bannerdale. The Helvellyn range lies to the south-west, while the outlook east extends towards the Eden Valley and Pennines. Cloud on the higher fells can change the view substantially even when Great Mell itself is clear.

A hill built from older hills

Great Mell Fell is underlain by Mell Fell Conglomerate, a sedimentary rock assembled from fragments of still older rocks. Many of the fragments came from the Borrowdale volcanic rocks and the sedimentary succession now called the Windermere Supergroup. The conglomerate records the erosion and transport of an earlier mountain landscape.

Its likely age is Late Devonian, although the absence of fossils makes that dating tentative. Water carried the coarse material through braided river channels and spread it across adjoining alluvial fans in a generally arid continental setting. Over time those deposits became rock.

The rounded outline alone does not tell the full story: the rocks within the hill preserve evidence of an earlier landscape.

The prehistoric summit

The top contains a protected prehistoric bowl barrow as well as the summit cairn. The archaeological mound is low and easily overlooked, but it is more than an accumulation of stones left by walkers. Earth and stone were used to construct a funerary monument, with a shallow surrounding ditch separated from the mound by a level strip of ground.

Bowl barrows belong to a long prehistoric tradition. This example is associated with the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age, but an exact construction date is not established.

An Ordnance Survey column formerly stood on the mound; its removal caused some surface damage. The surviving monument remains legally protected. Do not add stones, dig into the mound or rearrange the cairn. Treat the summit as an archaeological place as well as a viewpoint.

Walking from the south-east

A compact out-and-back begins at the rough roadside pull-in at NY407246. Follow the track to the second National Trust gate or adjacent stile, then climb beside the fence and bear right towards the broad upper ridge as the trees thin. Reach the summit and return along the same approach.

This complete return itinerary is about 3.5 kilometres. Woodland detours or a separate Little Mell Fell ascent are additional outings, not part of that figure. Carry a suitable map and identify the return line before leaving the summit in mist.

Planning and care

Roadside space is very limited. Keep the lane, gates and farm access clear, and have another plan if there is no suitable space. Bring water, food and the equipment needed for changing weather rather than relying on facilities at the start.

The hill is modest by Lakeland standards, but short distance does not remove the difficulties of rough ground. Mud, roots, wet grass and boggy hollows can slow progress. Snow or ice makes the same slopes a different proposition. Leave time for the full descent, take waterproof clothing and use the forecast and your own experience to decide whether conditions suit the outing.