Rosthwaite Fell (Bessyboot)

Wainwright took Bessyboot, at 551 metres, as the summit of Rosthwaite Fell, although Rosthwaite Cam, 800 metres to the south, is higher at 612 metres. Between the two lies Tarn at Leaves, a small tarn about 100 metres long.

Three sides of the fell are steep and craggy, and there is no simple way up. In Stonethwaite there are a few spaces by the telephone box and more along the approach lane. Walk past the Langstrath Hotel towards the campsite, where a gate leads to a path climbing through the woods beside Big Stanger Gill, with waterfalls and stone-pitched steps. It passes Bull Crag, crosses the gill below a waterfall and follows its north bank to near 500 metres. A short walk round a marsh then brings you to Tarn at Leaves and the summit cairn. Allow about 1.75 miles and 1,600 feet of ascent. From the Borrowdale road between Seatoller and Rosthwaite, a path goes up Combe Gill for a kilometre and then climbs steeply up its east flank. The north ridge from behind Chapel Farm, keeping west of Papelay Crag, needs some mild scrambling.

Getting onto the summit rocks of Rosthwaite Cam also takes a mild scramble, which is one reason most walkers stop at Bessyboot.

From Bessyboot you look north-east to the Helvellyn range, with Rosthwaite Cam and Glaramara close by to the south. For a longer day the ridge goes on over Dovenest Top towards Glaramara. The fell was made a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985.