Height: 256 metres / 840 feet Grid reference: SD 46232 99413 Category: The Outlying Fells
The distant Langdales from the summit of Hugill Fell (the cairn has now gone)
Hugill Fell
Hugill Fell and Reston Scar
Start point: Barley Bridge, Staveley (SD 470 987)
Hugill Fell (OF) and Reston Scar (OF) from Staveley
Distance: 2.2 miles Total Ascent: 192 metres Time Taken: 1 hour Start Time: 09:30
Weather: Dull but warm. 20ºC
Today I chased the weather really and headed east as a great sheet of grey cloud was working its way from the west over the Lake District. At least I managed to set off in the sunshine but that was soon obliterated as general dullness set in. It was warm work today though and the views from these fells are a little too distant at the best of times, so that wasn’t helped by the conditions.
Hugill Fell route map.
Brunt Knott across The Bungalow.
Casper hiding in the meadow.
The cloud rolling in from the west to obliterate the blue sky.
Nearly at the top looking to Brunt Knott and Potter Fell.
Casper checks out what is happening down in Kentmere.
The cairn that formerly stood at the Wainwright top has now disappeared - Casper and Dougal hunt in vain for it.
The Kentmere Valley. The good news is that you can now walk across to Reston Scar whereas before access was forbidden. On the way we found the remains of the cairn on the path - it is now a line of stones crossing the boggy ground.
Crinkle Crags and Bowfell catch some rain, the Langdale Pikes to the right from the highest central point.
Heading for Reston Scar, Dougal does a Casper!
The Coniston fells from Reston Scar, the main A591 through Ings below.
The length of Casper and Dougal's tongues tell how warm it is up here today.
Hugill Fell from Reston Scar.
Kemp Tarn.
Staveley from Reston Scar.
The weir at Barley Bridge in mono.
The colour version.
Tranquil River Kent apart from those two dogs having a dip.
Hugill Fell
Start point: Barley Bridge, Staveley (SD 470 987)
Hugill Fell (OF) from Staveley
Distance: 1.6 miles Total Ascent: 160 metres Time Taken: 30 minutes
Weather: Damp and dreary. 15C.
It was a claggy old day today with the mist and drizzle clinging to the fell sides. I opted for a shorter – and lower – walk up to Hugill Fell, the perfect training ground for Dougal. He needs to practice those descents though, it was amusing watching him trying to keep up with Casper and running at full pelt down the hill only to bowl over when his legs could go no faster!
Hugill Fell route map.
Heron reflection on the weir at Barley Bridge.
He had a good perch and was quite content to sit around. Better here than at my garden pond!
The weir.
Tommy Haircut.
Looking back towards Staveley from the climb. Damp and dreary it was, but also very warm.
Running for Hugill Fell, the cairn visible on the skyline.
Kentmere from Hugill Fell.
The cairn on Hugill Fell seems to change shape every time I visit. Nice to see it still there though.
Casper and Dougal at the cairn. Look at all the flying ants buzzing around the cairn, there were thousands of them today.
Looks like a couple of people have reached the top of Reston Scar across the way.
'What are you doing up there?'.
Reflections on a calm River Kent.
Hugill Fell
Start point: Barley Bridge, Staveley (SD 470 987)
Hugill Fell (OF) from Staveley
Distance: 1.6 miles Total Ascent: 160 metres Time Taken: 1 hour
Weather: Dull. 17oC.
We were over Kendal way today and decided on a short walk up to Hugill Fell above Staveley. The weather wasn’t the best, it being quite dull but this is a pleasant enough walk. The treat for later was lunch at Wilf’s in Staveley followed by watching the Tour of Britain cycle race at Blease Hill outside Kendal en-route to the stage finish in Kendal town centre.
Brunt Knott from the climb to Hugill Fell.
Someone's been rolling in the bracken.
The Kentmere Valley from Hugill Fell.
Closer up, showing the Kentmere Horseshoe fells.
Looking to the distant Langdales from the summit of Hugill Fell.
Close-up of Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and the Langdale Pikes.
Brunt Knott across the valley.
Angus and Casper on the summit.
Now joined by Louise, the dark clouds rolling in.
The weir above Barley Bridge, Staveley. The River Kent looks decidedly dry at the moment.
Our second summit of the day! Blease Hill, King of the Mountains points for the first riders over the line.
Russia's Alex Serov, the eventual stage winner 7 miles away in Kendal is closely scrutinised by the TV camera.
Going for it!
Hugill Fell
Start point: Barley Bridge, Staveley (SD 470 987)
Hugill Fell (OF) from Staveley
Distance: 1.6 miles Total Ascent: 160 metres Time Taken: 30 minutes
Weather: Sunny and warm. 15°C.
I was in Kendal at lunchtime, the sun was shining so I took the opportunity to try and dry out after yesterdays damp affair and headed up to the Wainwright Outlying fell, Hugill Fell from Staveley. A nice and easy one this with some great views, especially when the sun shines.
Today’s short walk follows Wainwright’s Hugill Fell chapters in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 22.
Hugill Fell route map.
Brunt Knott over Kentmere Valley.
The head of Kentmere and the Kentmere Horseshoe.
View of the distant high fells from Hugill Fell; the Coniston fells to the left, the Langdales to the right.
The summit of Hugill Fell.
The River Kent flows over the weir at Barley Bridge, Staveley.
Hugill Fell and Reston Scar
Hugill Fell (OF) and Reston Scar (OF) from Staveley
Today’s two short walks follow Wainwright’s Hugill Fell and Reston Scar chapters in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, pages 22 and 24. They both start from different places in Staveley and it was almost like two different days with the Hugill Fell walk done in the rain and the Reston Scar walk done under blue skies and sunshine.
Walk 1 – Hugill Fell from Staveley
Start point: Staveley – Barley Bridge (SD 470 987)
Weather: Rain, overcast.
Brunt Knott from the steep path to Hugill Fell.
Hugill Fell summit cairn looking to a the clouded in Crinkle Crags and Langdale Pikes. The high point of Hugill Fell is on the other side of a wall, 320 metres SW.
he Kentmere Valley from Hugill Fell.
Walk 2 – Reston Scar from Staveley
Start point: Staveley – Brow Lane (SD 468 984)
Weather: Sunny.
Looking back to Staveley from the track at the start of the walk.
Kemp Tarn with Brunt Knott behind.
The Coniston Fells to the left, the Sca Fells and Langdale Pikes to the right from the summit of Reston Scar.
The Sca Fells and the Langdale Pikes from Reston Scar. See below for an annotated version of this photo.
The Kent Estuary from the descent of Reston Scar.