Place Fell rises alone, a hub-like point at the centre of a great arc of mountains running from Helvellyn and the Dodds to the High Street range. It’s a fairly small fell, but the summit views are classic Lakeland. From Place Fell’s foot the ribbon length of Ullswater stretches out towards the farmland of the Eden Valley. The lake and its hill make a natural double act. From Sandwick to Patterdale, Ullswater’s east shore offers one of the most idyllic stretches of waterside walking in England, snaking through birch woods where Place Fell drops steep and craggy into the clear water of the lake. For several kilometres there are no roads or houses, and civilisation is only occasionally glimpsed over on the far shore. This is one of those hill approaches that are at least as memorable as the climb it leads to. And it’s quite a climb, with a relentless slog onto Boredale Hause and more of the same from there to the summit. I said Place Fell was wee, but you have to earn every metre.
Detailed description
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 7.43 miles (12 km)
Total ascent: 659m
Steepest Gradient: 30% (1 in 3)
Time: 3 – 4 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Small layby at the end of the public road in Sandwick, NY423196
Nearest town:
Ambleside or Penrith
Terrain:
A well-used and occasionally quite rocky path along the lake shore, and ditto on the climb to Boredale Hause. From here the final summit slog is on one of those incongruous-looking recently constructed gravel paths. The descent on the north side of the hill is a gentler angle but muddier.
Seasonal variations:
A good quick-ish route for winter's shorter days.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: Lake District – Met Office: Lake District
Public transport:
Infrequent buses from Penrith to Patterdale. You might also work out a way to incorporate a ride on the Ullswater steamer that connects Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge. See http://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/index.shtml
Guidebooks:
Great mountain Days in the Lake District, Mark Richards, pb. Cicerone http://www.cicerone.co.uk/product/detail.cfm/book/516/refer/ukh
Maps:
OS Explorer OL5 (1:25,000), Harvey/BMC Lake District (1:40,000), OS Landranger 90 (1:50,000)
Accommodation:
Patterdale YHA http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/the-lake-district/hostels/Patterdale/index.aspx
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Tourist info:
Ullswater (017684 82414); Pooley Bridge (017684 86530); Rheged (01768 860 034)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
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- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023