Eastern Fells · Book 1

Little Mell Fell

Little Mell Fell is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 505 m (1,657 ft) it is the 173rd highest of the 214 and the 30th highest in the Eastern Fells.

Height: 505 m; 1,657 ft
Rank: 173; of 214
In area: 30; of 35
Difficulty: Easy

Little Mell Fell in the Eastern Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Silence-is-infinite via Wikimedia Commons

About Little Mell Fell

A solitary grassy dome at the edge of the Eastern Fells. Short, steep and direct from The Hause, it rewards quickly with open views of Ullswater and the Eden boundary hills. Ideal for a leg-stretcher in changeable weather or a family-friendly first Wainwright.

Sand and gravel, laid down in desert rivers and fans about 375 million years ago, make up this fell. The rock is Mell Fell Conglomerate, unlike the volcanic rock of the fells around it, and only the two Mell Fells are built of it. It erodes smoothly, which is why the fell is a neat, rounded grassy dome.

The short way up is from The Hause, a col on the minor road south of the fell, at NY 423 235. There is a lay-by for four or five cars. Cross the road to the gate and step stile, cross a boggy patch to a second gate, and climb straight up the steep fellside. After about 120 metres the slope eases, and a right fork takes you to the trig point. There and back is only 1.3 km, with 120 metres of climbing.

The ground is grass and bracken with a little gorse lower down. There is no rock to deal with. Longer approaches come from Lowthwaite Farm to the west and from the lane by the Cove camping park to the east, but only the southern part of the fell is open access land.

The summit is open all round, looking east over the Eden Valley to the Pennines, north to the Southern Uplands, and down into Martindale. Most of Ullswater stays hidden, though you can see its lower reaches.

A disused quarry on the eastern flank is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with lichens, mosses and insects recorded there, and the rock it worked may have contained a mineral called chlorophaeite.

In winter

Short enough for the shortest day, but the first 120 metres above The Hause are steep grass that gets slippery in frost, and the patch by the roadside gate is boggy all winter. Cattle graze the lower slopes, so keep dogs close.

Great Views
Dog Friendly
Family Walk

Sources: Wikipedia: Little Mell Fell, Walk Lakes: Little Mell Fell. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 423 240
Latitude: 54.60801° N
Longitude: 2.89445° W
Area: Eastern Fells

Walking up Little Mell Fell

The nearest car park on foot is High Cascades car park, 5.1 km (3.2 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from High Cascades car park

Distance: 5.1 km; 3.2 miles, one way
Ascent: 399 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 35 min; Allow 1 to 2 hours

Height in metres along the path from High Cascades car park to the summit.

Times use Naismith’s rule, 5 km/h on the flat plus extra time for the climb, with Langmuir’s corrections. It’s a rule of thumb for the way up only, so add stops, weather and the walk back down.

The route follows paths mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors and isn’t a guided line. Check the mountain forecast before you go and carry a map and compass.

Little Mell Fell questions

Is Little Mell Fell a Wainwright?

Yes. Little Mell Fell is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 1, The Eastern Fells.

How high is Little Mell Fell?

Little Mell Fell is 505 metres (1,657 feet) high. That makes it the 173rd highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 30th highest in the Eastern Fells.

Where do you park for Little Mell Fell?

The nearest car park on foot is High Cascades car park, 5.1 km (3.2 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Little Mell Fell?

From High Cascades car park it is 5.1 km with 399 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 35 min, so allow 1 to 2 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Little Mell Fell?

Upfell rates Little Mell Fell as easy. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Little Mell Fell?

The closest are Gowbarrow Fell (481 m, 2.7 km SW), Great Mell Fell (537 m, 3.0 km NW) and Hallin Fell (388 m, 4.3 km S).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Little Mell Fell?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 423 240, or 54.60801, -2.89445 in latitude and longitude.