Far Eastern Fells · Book 2

Mardale Ill Bell

Mardale Ill Bell is a Wainwright, one of the 214 Lake District fells in Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides. At 760 m (2,493 ft) it is the 59th highest of the 214 and the 8th highest in the Far Eastern Fells.

Height: 760 m; 2,493 ft
Rank: 59; of 214
In area: 8; of 36
Difficulty: Moderate

Mardale Ill Bell in the Far Eastern Fells of the Lake District — Photo: Ericoides via Wikimedia Commons

About Mardale Ill Bell

A rocky knuckle on the High Street skyline, perched above Blea Water. The Nan Bield and Small Water cols add drama, and the views to Haweswater are immense.

Blea Water, under the crags of the north east face, is 63 metres deep, the deepest tarn in the Lake District. Small Water fills the next corrie to the south, with Piot Crag between them.

From the car park at Mardale Head, at the end of the Haweswater road, a path climbs past a soft patch to Small Water. Along its shore are old stone wind shelters. The path then zigzags up to Nan Bield Pass, where there is another wind shelter, and follows a rough, narrowing ridge north west to the top. It's steep and stony but never too rocky, and there is no scrambling. Park early: the Mardale Head car park is small and fills up quickly even midweek.

From Kentmere, Nan Bield is the standard way up too, at the far end of a long valley walk, and the fell is on the Kentmere Horseshoe. A good day from Mardale goes up Rough Crag and Long Stile to High Street, crosses to Mardale Ill Bell and comes down by Nan Bield and Small Water.

The summit is grass with two big cairns, and the northern one is the highest. Walk to the rim of the crags for the views down to Blea Water and Small Water. Further off are the Ill Bell ridge and the Coniston fells.

Nan Bield was the old trading route between Kentmere and Mardale Green, the village drowned when Haweswater was raised in the 1940s. The shelters by Small Water gave people on the pass somewhere to sit out bad weather.

In winter

The rough, narrowing ridge between Nan Bield Pass and the summit ices up, and the path down from Nan Bield past Small Water is steep and rocky once frozen. The crags above Blea Water are the edge to avoid if the top is under snow.

Great Views
Dog Friendly

Sources: Wikipedia: Mardale Ill Bell, Walk Lakes: High Street and a few friends, from Mardale Head, Walking Englishman: Riggindale Crag, High Street and Mardale Ill Bell. Updated 24 September 2026.

Summit

OS grid ref: NY 447 101
Latitude: 54.48340° N
Longitude: 2.85409° W
Area: Far Eastern Fells

Walking up Mardale Ill Bell

The nearest car park on foot is Mardale Head Car Park, 3.4 km (2.1 miles) from the summit along mapped paths. Directions to the car park

Route from Mardale Head Car Park

Distance: 3.4 km; 2.1 miles, one way
Ascent: 515 m; Total climb to the summit
Time up: 1 h 27 min; Allow 1 to 2 hours

Height in metres along the path from Mardale Head 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.

Mardale Ill Bell questions

Is Mardale Ill Bell a Wainwright?

Yes. Mardale Ill Bell is one of the 214 fells Alfred Wainwright described in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, in Book 2, The Far Eastern Fells.

How high is Mardale Ill Bell?

Mardale Ill Bell is 760 metres (2,493 feet) high. That makes it the 59th highest of the 214 Wainwrights and the 8th highest in the Far Eastern Fells.

Where do you park for Mardale Ill Bell?

The nearest car park on foot is Mardale Head Car Park, 3.4 km (2.1 miles) from the summit along mapped paths.

How long does it take to climb Mardale Ill Bell?

From Mardale Head Car Park it is 3.4 km with 515 m of ascent. Naismith's rule, with Langmuir's corrections, puts the climb at about 1 h 27 min, so allow 1 to 2 hours to reach the summit at your own pace, plus the walk back down.

How hard is Mardale Ill Bell?

Upfell rates Mardale Ill Bell as moderate. Check the mountain weather forecast before you set out and carry a map and compass.

Which Wainwrights are near Mardale Ill Bell?

The closest are High Street (828 m, 1.2 km NW), Harter Fell [Mardale] (779 m, 1.4 km SE) and Thornthwaite Crag (784 m, 1.6 km W).

What is the grid reference for the summit of Mardale Ill Bell?

The summit is at OS grid reference NY 447 101, or 54.48340, -2.85409 in latitude and longitude.