- Fellbarrow
Infobox Mountain
Name = Fellbarrow
Photo = Fellbarrow.jpg
Caption = Fellbarrow from the slopes ofLow Fell
Elevation = 416 m (1,365 ft)
Location =Cumbria , ENG
Range =Lake District ,Western Fells
Prominence = "c." 50 m| Parent peak = Low Fell
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 89, 90, "Explorer" OL4
Grid_ref_UK = NY132243
Listing = WainwrightFellbarrow is a low hill in the north west of the English
Lake District . It is not far from the town ofCockermouth , near toLoweswater and can most easily be climbed from Low Lorton, orThackthwaite . From the summit there are views across the Lorton valley toGrasmoor and Whiteside.Topography
The
Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east andWasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country areGreat Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank ofEnnerdale , the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley.Alfred Wainwright : "A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Volume 7 The Western Fells": Westmorland Gazette (1966): ISBN 0-7112-2460-9] Fellbarrow and Low Fell stand remote from the end of the northern arm.Loweswater is unique amongst the major lakes of the District in emptying toward the centre of the National Park. It's waters flow out eastwards intoCrummock Water before beginning their northward journey as the Cocker. Loweswater does not therefore represent any watershed between thefell s on either side of its valley, as might be supposed from a quick glance at the map. A low ridge circuiting the western end of the lake joinsBurnbank Fell to Low Fell and Fellbarrow, confirming them as the last outpost of the Western Fells.The two fells form a ridge 2
mile s long with the lower Fellbarrow at the northern end.Alfred Wainwright in his influential "Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells " was forced to estimate the elevation of Low Fell and considered (although with some doubts) Fellbarrow to be the high point of the ridge.. There are a number of intervening tops, in particular Smithy Fell and Sourfoot Fell which Wainwright decided were satellites of Low Fell, based on the position of the lowestcol . That convention is followed here.To the east of Fellbarrow is the Vale of Lorton, through which flows the River Cocker. This is a wide cultivated valley with a number of small parcels of woodland, the settlement of Thackthwaite lying nearest to the fell. To the west are a number of small streams including Mosser Beck and Cat Gill, which also flow northward and ultimately join the Cocker. This is rolling agricultural land on the very edge of the Lake District. North of Fellbarrow is the lower top of Hatteringill Head (1,263 ft), listed in some guidebooksBirkett, Bill: "Complete Lakeland Fells": Collins Willow (1994): ISBN 0-0021-8406-0] before the ridge falls away over Whin Fell to a minor road known as Mirk Lane. Fellbarrow also sends out a short ridge north eastward over Broadmoor Hill towards Low Lorton village. The fell is rounded and grassy almost throughout.
Geology
The rocks beneath the summit are of the Loweswater Formation, composed of
greywacke sandstone turbidities. Beneath this and occasionally outcropping on the eastern flanks are the laminatedmudstone andsiltstone of the Kirk Stile Formation.British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, "England & Wales Sheet 29": BGS (1999)]ummit and View
The summit is a gently curving grassy dome, crossed by a fence, and sports an
Ordnance Survey triangulation column and acairn . To west and north are theIrish Sea andSolway Firth , seen across the Cumberland plain. To the east is a fine view of theNorth Western Fells across Lorton- the Whiteside -Grisedale Pike ridge perhaps the highlight- withSkiddaw andBlencathra popping up behind. Further round the view is crowded with fells, the northern wall of Ennerdale seen side on throughout its length and backed by Pillar and theScafells . No lakes or tarns can be seen.Ascents
From Low Lorton village a lane leads westwards, joining to the access track to Hatteringill farm. This gives access to the north east ridge above Broadmoor Hill, within easy reach of the summit. An alternative is to climb Low Fell via the drove road from
Thackthwaite , either branching north at the ridge or climbing both tops. From the west there are no rights of way on the fell, although it is marked by OS as access land. An approach from the Mosser road is therefore a possibility.References
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