Holme Fell

Hodge Close, on the north side of the fell, is a huge disused green slate quarry that closed just before the Second World War. It is flooded now, with sheer drops into the water. Rock climbers use its walls, and several divers have died after getting lost in its underwater tunnels. Look, but keep back from the edge.

The fell is a ridge about a mile and a half long, running north to south, with roads and tracks all round it, so circular walks are easy to plan. Walkers start from Holme Ground, Hodge Close, Yew Tree Tarn or Yew Tree Farm. There is parking beside Yew Tree Tarn on the Coniston road and at Glen Mary Bridge, and the last two starts link with the circuit of Tarn Hows. A popular loop goes over Black Fell first, crosses the A593 and climbs Holme Fell from Hodge Close.

The walking is straightforward. A few steep rocky bits below the summit need some clambering, but nothing counts as a scramble.

Ivy Crag, the northern top, carries a large cairn. The true top is further south at 317 metres, between Calf Crag and Raven Crag. West of Uskdale Gap, two small reservoirs once supplied water to work a funicular that raised slate out of the quarry. Because the fell stands on its own, the views north, south and east are good for its height, with nearly all of Coniston Water below and the Langdale fells in the distance. Wetherlam blocks the view to the south-west.

Yew Tree Tarn, beside the road, was dammed in the 1930s and holds trout.