Height: 505 metres / 1657 feet Grid reference: NY 42318 24027 Category: The Eastern Fells

Casper at the summit of Little Mell Fell
Height: 505 metres / 1657 feet Grid reference: NY 42318 24027 Category: The Eastern Fells
Casper at the summit of Little Mell Fell
Walked on
Start point: Brownrigg Farm (NY 407 247)
Great Mell Fell from Brownrigg Farm
Distance: 2 miles Total Ascent: 275 metres Time Taken: 45 minutes Start Time: 11:35
Weather: Dull (on many levels!). 8C
What can I say? Not my favourites as already documented…but I was out.
Start point: The Hause (NY 423 235)
Little Mell Fell from The Hause
Distance: 0.7 miles Total Ascent: 120 metres Time Taken: 20 minutes Start Time: 12:30
Better views from this one but I drove round to it rather than walking.
Walked on
Start point: Park Brow (NY 397 205)
Park Brow – Green Hill – Gowbarrow Fell – Great Meldrum (529) – Little Meldrum (530) – Watermillock Fell (531) – Little Mell Fell – Swinburn’s Park – Park Brow
Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Overcast and windy. 10ºC.
The brief winter wonderland interlude is over and it seems to have returned to dull and damp weather. It was raining as I set off this morning for a boggy walk over Gowbarrow Park and beyond, but thankfully that soon let up. There was just a little celebration taking place today too…
Looks like Angus has picked up some foliage on the climb! It was a special treat for him this walk - he is 12 on Sunday and of course he has slowed right down these days, after all, none of us are getting any younger. This walk is over relatively easy terrain which suited him just fine - Happy Birthday Angus!
The Nab, Beda Fell and Place Fell across Ullswater from the top of Little Meldrum. Take no notice of the Birkett grid reference on this one, it is way out.
Walked on
Start point: The Hause (NY 423 235)
Little Mell Fell (506) from The Hause
Distance: 0.7 miles Total Ascent: 120 metres Time Taken: 25 minutes
Weather: Overcast with drizzle. 15oC.
Firstly – boots! How long do yours last? You hear stories of people having them last for years and years and I can’t say that I’m impressed that my latest pair lasted all of 7 months before the sole started to come away, and the pair before that barely lasted 12 months. The first time, I accepted it as hard wear and tear – but not this time, I have duly returned them to the manufacturers via the shop where I bought them. Here’s hoping for a result – at this rate I will have an eternal pair of boots if I get them replaced every time the sole comes off! It’s a shame, because apart from that the boots are absolutely brilliant and they are great to wear, very comfortable and waterproof.
Enough of the rant, onto today’s walk. It has been wet and miserable for the last few days, so I decided on somewhere low and also a fell that I haven’t visited for over 3 years, which must be the longest of all of them, and went to Little Mell Fell. This was a rare Birkett ‘bag’ and my penultimate Wainwright (second time around), not that I have been actively pursuing either for a while. Anyway, I managed to pass through all the heavy rain for an easy and quick climb in dry conditions. I realised why I haven’t revisited for so long – there is not a lot going for this one as it surrounded by fells that are better walks and have better views. Whatever, it was nice to be out again and on the way back I stopped off at Aira Force for a quick look.
I think I found the only patch of blue sky anywhere today, here looking to Gowbarrow Fell from the climb to Little Mell Fell.
Hallin Fell across Ullswater - you can make out the obelisk at the summit. Beyond is the Steel Knotts ridge.
Walked on
Walk 1 – Cow Bridge – Dovedale – Hart Crag – Hartsop Above How (193) – Cow Bridge
Cloud coming in on the tops with a cold wind.
Walk 2 – Great Mell Fell (194) from Brownrigg Farm
Weather worsening now, turning to rain with a lot of cloud.
Walk 3 – Little Mell Fell (195) from The Hause
Weather even worse now with gale force winds.