Hart Side

Hart Side

Hart Side is a 756-metre Wainwright in the Eastern Fells. Summit record.

Hart Side stands on an eastern ridge of Stybarrow Dodd, with Green Side to the south-west and Birkett Fell to the east. Great Dodd and Stybarrow Dodd are prominent across Deepdale, while intervening ground hides most of Ullswater. Landscape and views.

Finding the summit

The recorded summit is a rock at NY 35902 19729. Another rock six metres north-west is equally high; both nearby cairns are lower. The north-west cairn, at NY 35887 19748, is the Wainwright top. Survey record and Wainwright-top guide.

Hart Side appears in Book One, The Eastern Fells, of Wainwright’s pictorial guides. Guidebook context.

From Park Brow

Cross the A5091 from Park Brow car park to the stile opposite. Follow the Glencoyne Park path through woodland and across small gills. Beyond the beech trees, climb Glencoyne Brow and cross the boundary wall. Follow the path below Brown Hills. At the next wall, leave the path continuing across Glencoyne Head and climb beside the wall towards Birkett Fell. Visit its cairn, then head west to Hart Side.

Return east to Birkett Fell and retrace the wall-side descent to Brown Hills. Follow the same path over Glencoyne Brow and through the woodland to the roadside stile. Cross carefully back to Park Brow. Photographic route guide.

Geology

The summit is mapped in the Birker Fell Andesite Formation, part of the Ordovician Borrowdale Volcanic Group. The formation consists mainly of lava flows, with some basalt, dacite and deposits of volcanic fragments. It is more varied than a single uniform rock type. Summit mapping and BGS definition.

Access and facilities

Park Brow is a National Trust car park on the A5091. Check current charges and parking instructions. Toilets and refreshments are at the main Aira Force visitor site, so plan those stops separately. National Trust visitor information.

If travelling without a car, check current services to the Aira Force area and plan the connection to Park Brow and your return journey.

Preparation and safety

This is a strenuous fell walk, with steep climbs and open upper slopes. Carry a map and compass, suitable footwear, waterproofs, warm layers, food and water. Check the mountain forecast and allow daylight for the whole return. Avoid exposed slopes in storms; swollen gills can prevent safe passage. Snow and ice require winter skills and equipment. Mountain safety.