{{Short description|Mountain in Cumbria, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Armboth Fell | image_caption = | elevation_m = 479 | elevation_ref = | prominence = ''c.'' {{convert|25|m|ft}} | parent_peak = [[High Seat (Lake District)|High Seat]] | listing = [[List of Wainwrights|Wainwright]] | location = [[Cumbria]], [[England]] | range = [[Lake District]], [[Central Fells]] | image = Armboth Fell - geograph.org.uk - 3096260.jpg | map = United Kingdom Lake District | map_caption = Location in Lake District, UK | coordinates = {{coord|54.53347|N|3.08791|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | grid_ref_UK = NY297159 | topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Explorer'' OL4 }} '''Armboth Fell''' is a [[fell]] in the English [[Lake District]], regarded by [[Alfred Wainwright]] as the centre of Lakeland.<ref name="wainwright">{{cite book |author=Wainwright, A |author-link=Alfred Wainwright |title= [[Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells|A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells]], Book 3 The Central Fells |publisher= Westmorland Gazette |year= 1958}}</ref> It is named for the former settlement of '''Armboth'''. The [[fell]] is a domed plateau, three-quarters of a mile across, jutting out to the east of the [[Derwentwater]]-[[Thirlmere]] [[Drainage divide|watershed]], in the [[Cumberland (unitary authority)|Cumberland]] district. The fell is wet underfoot, with large areas clad in heather. The eastern slopes above Thirlmere have been planted with [[conifers]].
==Topography== Armboth Fell joins the main ridge via a shallow depression, a little to the south of [[High Tove]], and due east of Middle Crag. This boggy low point is the source of both Fisher Gill and Launchy Gill, which form the fell's northern and southern boundaries respectively. Fisher Gill takes the shorter course, flowing straight for the shore of the reservoir through a break in the conifers below Cockrigg Crag. It enters the lake near the Armboth public car park. Launchy Gill flows across the plateau via Launchy Tarn. This is prominent on [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] maps, but on the ground is a pool {{convert|20|feet|m|abbr=on}} wide. Very shallow, it lies on a gently sloping band of rock.<ref name="blair">Don Blair: ''Exploring Lakeland Tarns'': Lakeland Manor Press (2003): {{ISBN|0-9543904-1-5}}</ref> Launchy Gill then drops through the forest over a series of waterfalls. A marked nature tail, popular with children, follows the lower part of the gill through the trees.
Prominent on the eastern flank of the fell is Fisher Crag ({{convert|1386|ft|m|disp=comma}}), a striking rock face set all about by trees and midway between the two gills. Reminiscent of [[Raven Crag]] to the north, this is a fine viewpoint for Thirlmere and the Eastern Fells, although public right of way is uncertain.<ref name="richards">Mark Richards: ''The Central Fells'': Collins (2003): {{ISBN|0-00-711365-X}}</ref>
==Armboth==<!--Armboth redirects here--> [[File:Armboth sign.jpg|thumb|Signpost on the A591 road to the former settlement at Armboth]] [[File:Armboth ruin.jpg|thumb|Outline of former building or enclosure at Armboth]] The fell is named for the settlement of Armboth which stood on the shore of Thirlmere near the mouth of Fisher Gill.<ref>Reprint of one-inch [[Ordnance Survey]] map, 1867: David & Charles (1971): {{ISBN|0-7153-5071-4}}</ref> When the level of the lake was raised to create the reservoir in the 1880s, the village was abandoned and submerged. The only remaining structure is the summerhouse of Armboth Hall which lies amid the trees,<ref name="richards"/> although a number of ruins, enclosures and tracks can still be found within the forest. There is now no habitation on the western shore of the lake, although 'Armboth' still appears on some signposts.<ref name="wainwright"/>
==Geology== The Birker Fell Formation ([[plagioclase]]-phyric [[andesite]] lavas) predominates, overlain by [[till]]. To the east of the summit are outcrops of [[garnet]] bearing [[porphyritic]] andesite.<ref name="BGS">British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, ''England & Wales Sheet 29'': BGS (1999)</ref>
==Summit== A small rock outcrop forms the summit, complete with a [[cairn]]. A further knoll to the northeast is of similar altitude. Much of the fell, particularly towards the main watershed, is very wet underfoot and the heather makes progress even more laborious.<ref name="wainwright"/> There are views east to the [[Helvellyn]] range and westward over the main ridge to the higher fells where a great sweep from [[Grisedale Pike]] to [[Bowfell]] can be seen. Fisher Crag presents a better viewpoint for Thirlmere.<ref name="wainwright"/>
==Ascents== To quote Wainwright "walkers of a contrary turn of mind will summarily reject the advice to leave Armboth Fell well alone, and may indeed be strengthened in their determination to climb it."<ref name="wainwright"/>
From the public car park at Armboth a track can be followed up the south bank of Fisher Gill. This leads into the trees, emerging behind Fisher Crag. From here on there is no path.<ref name="richards"/>
Launchy Gill does not provide access to the open fell, the forest fence being a substantial barrier, but from further south at the Dob Gill car park the bridleway to Watendlath can be used to gain the main ridge between [[Ullscarf]] and High Tove, before striking north to the summit.<ref name="richards"/>
== Protected Area == '''Armboth Fells''' was designated as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) in 1986 because of the high altitude woodland present that includes birch and hazel within the {{convert|2347.28|ha|acre sqmi}} site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SSSI detail |url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1003762&SiteName=armboth%20fells&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=[[Natural England]]}}</ref> Part of the land area designated as '''Armboth Fells''' SSSI is owned by [[United Utilities]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Mapping the habitats of England’s ten largest institutional landowners |url=https://whoownsengland.org/2020/10/06/mapping-the-habitats-of-englands-ten-largest-institutional-landowners/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Who owns England? |language=en}}</ref> and part is owned by the [[National Trust]]. [[Cumbria Wildlife Trust]] has been involved in peatland restoration within this protected area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armboth Fell Peatland Restoration |url=https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/armboth-fell-peatland-restoration |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=[[Cumbria Wildlife Trust]] |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Central Fells}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Fells of the Lake District]] [[Category:Lake District High Fells SAC]]