The Nab

Infobox Mountain
Name = The Nab
Photo = The_Nab_from_Satura_Crag.jpg
Caption = The Nab as seen from nearby Satura Crag
Elevation = 576 m (1,890 ft)
Location = Cumbria, ENG
Range = Lake District, Far Eastern Fells
Prominence = 61 m
Parent peak = Rest Dodd
Coordinates =
Topographic
OS "Explorer" OL5
Grid_ref_UK = NY434152
Listing = Wainwright

The Nab is a fell in the English Lake District. It has a moderate height of 576 metres (1,890 feet), and lies in the quieter eastern high ground between Ullswater and Haweswater Reservoir. The Nab is included in Alfred Wainwright's list of Lakeland fells and many walkers feel compelled to climb it to complete their list of 'Wainwrights' even though it is not a significant fell, is awkward to reach, and strictly speaking, lies on private land.

Topography

The Nab is a top on the northern ridge of Rest Dodd, one of the horseshoe of fells surrounding the Martindale catchment. It divides the valleys of Bannerdale and Rampsgill, which meet below the nose of the ridge to form How Grain. The sides of the ridge are steep and rough, but the top is broad and level. It is scarred by peat hags, some deeper than a man.

Access and History

When Alfred Wainwright wrote his pictorial guide to the Far Eastern Fells in the 1950s The Nab, as part of the Martindale Deer Forest was strictly out of bounds. He wrote in the chapter on The Nab:

The Nab is now open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 so things seem to have changed these days; there are still 'Private' notices posted, but the barbed wire and barricades have gone and walkers seem to be tolerated except during the stalking season. It is probably still a good idea to check with the Dalemain Estate (who administer the property) at their offices in Pooley Bridge to see if walking is allowed on a specific date.

Anybody approaching from the north will see 'The Bungalow' in Martindale which was formerly a shooting lodge built in 1910 by the Earl of Lonsdale for the visiting Kaiser Wilhelm and is now a holiday cottage available to rent.

A report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs found that Martindale deer may be the only pure blooded Red Deer left in England as many herds become cross bred with genes from the Sika Deer [ [http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/wild-deer/management-options.pdf Defra, UK - Error page ] ] .

ummit and View

The grassy dome of the summit is marked by a small cairn. Although the view is obstructed by higher ground southward there is an end to end view of the Helvellyn range above Angletarn Pikes. [Wainwright, A:"A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Book 2": ISBN 0-7112-2455-2]

Ascents

The route from Martindale to the summit follows a well engineered stalkers path which zig-zags up the fell and avoids any difficulties by by-passing the crags of Nab End just below the summit.

Most walkers who reach the summit of The Nab do not risk the wrath of the Dalemain Estate and avoid Martindale altogether, attaining the highest point by approaching and leaving along the boggy ridge which links with the neighbouring fell of Rest Dodd. This route has the added attraction of seeing the herds of Red deer on the open fell. The best starting point for this uncontroversial ascent of The Nab is Hartsop village in Patterdale, just off the A592 main road, where there is a large car park; this circular walk also takes in the 'Wainwright fells' of Brock Crags, Rest Dodd and Angletarn Pikes before descending back to Hartsop.

References