Meal Fell

Between Great Sca Fell and Great Cockup, Meal Fell is a small step on the Uldale ridge, with only about 30 metres of drop on either side. Like the fells around it, it is mostly smooth grass, but the top breaks out in rock and scree, which makes it look sharper than it is.

The walks start from the minor road along the western side of the Uldale Fells, at Longlands or Orthwaite. At Longlands there is informal room for about four cars. Walk Lakes follows the Cumbria Way out of Longlands, climbs Charleton Gill to Little Sca Fell and Great Sca Fell, then turns right and drops steeply to Meal Fell. From there it goes down to Trusmadoor, climbs Great Cockup, and comes back through the ravine and across the River Ellen. The whole round is about 11 km.

The going is grass and moss, with very little stone. It is steep in short bursts on either side of the summit, but nothing needs hands.

Meal Fell has three tops of about the same height. A small cairn sits on one, and the true summit carries a circular windshelter on an outcrop. Higher fells close in the view inland, so the best of it is north west towards the sea.

Trusmadoor and the summit knoll

The pass on the west side, between Meal Fell and Great Cockup, is a deep, narrow ravine cut through the grass, and paths from Longlands and Orthwaite both use it.

Bill Birkett noticed that the ground around the summit knoll looks as if it has been dug away in a full circle, and some think it may mark an old hill fort. Nobody has proved it.