Start point: Brownrigg Farm  (NY 407 247)

Great Mell Fell from Brownrigg Farm

Distance: 2 miles     Total Ascent: 275 metres    Time Taken: 45 minutes

Weather: Heavy showers. 8oC.

It is 3 years almost to the day that I was last on top of Great Mell Fell and I thought of that walk as I climbed. It was memorable as Connie was with me that day and some of the things we got up to made me smile; the weather turned out to be remarkably similar too. I ended up at Great Mell Fell almost by accident today as it was not my intended walk – that was over in Mardale – but the rain over there was like stair rods bouncing higher than the car. This upturned pudding basin stood out clearly from the greyness of most of the rest of the Lake District so that was good enough for me. I have to admit that this is far from my favourite and Great Mell and Little Mell Fells would certainly be in my bottom 10. Walking grassy and boggy slopes does not really do it for me; I much prefer some Lakeland rock underfoot but that was not to be today.

Starting the climb to Great Mell Fell with the snow capped Great Dodd to the west. The blue sky looks promising.

Matterdale Common and The Dodds.

Ancient trees showing the prevailing wind.

Little Mell Fell.

Looking along Matterdale towards Ullswater.

Climbing Great Mell Fell.

Gowbarrow Fell.

Little Mell Fell again from the trees. Looks like it's raining over there...

..and it's certainly raining over there - and it's coming directly for me!

Casper is not too impressed in the strong wind and heavy rain.

I hung around for a minute or two but was soon sodden and cold. This snatched photo of Blencathra was all I could manage, so come on Casper, let's go! As soon as I started the descent, guess what happened. The sun came out of course, so come on Casper let's have a quick run back to the top.

Clough Head and Great Dodd.

Rainbow to the north.

That's a better view of the Blencathra group.

The Dodds, more rain on the way.

The Vale of Keswick between Clough Head and Blencathra.

Casper on Great Mell Fell.

A sky of two halves over Great Mell Fell and there was heavy rain once more as I reached the car.

Start point: Brownrigg Farm  (NY 407 247)

Great Mell Fell (320) from Brownrigg Farm

Distance: 2 miles     Total Ascent: 250 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: A mixed bag, sunny with a fierce hailstorm at the end. The temperature was 8oC when we set off, 4oC when we got back to the car dropping to 2oC and then back up to 11oC on the way home!

The sun started shining by the time we reached Ullswater at lunchtime. We stopped off near Glencoyne Bridge to see Wordsworth’s daffodils before ascending Great Mell Fell, that great pudding basin, in the sunshine. We had good views from the top with plenty of snow visible on the higher fells. On the way down we could see a band of hailstones coming from the east which caught us just before we got to the car. Great Mell Fell and all views were completely obliterated when the storm reached us.

Great Mell Fell route map.

On the way past Ullswater, we stopped off near Glencoyne Bridge to admire Wordsworth's daffodils.

An extra treat for Connie - a lamb less than an hour old.

Blencathra.

Blencathra from the summit of Great Mell Fell.

The Vale of Keswick.

The south westerly view from Great Mell Fell.

The High Street ridge from Great Mell Fell.

Little Mell Fell.