# Fellbarrow

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Hill in Cumbria, England

Fellbarrow Fellbarrow from the slopes of Low Fell Highest point Elevation 416 m (1,365 ft) Prominence c. 50 m Parent peak Low Fell Listing Wainwright Coordinates 54°36′18″N 3°20′31″W / 54.605°N 3.342°W / 54.605; -3.342 Geography Fellbarrow Location in the Lake District National Park Show map of the Lake District Fellbarrow Location in Allerdale, Cumbria Show map of the former Allerdale Borough Location Cumbria, England Parent range Lake District, Western Fells OS grid NY132243 Topo map OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4

**Fellbarrow** is a low hill in the north west of the English [Lake District](/source/Lake_District). It is not far from the town of [Cockermouth](/source/Cockermouth), near to [Loweswater](/source/Loweswater) and can most easily be climbed from Low Lorton or [Thackthwaite](/source/Thackthwaite). From the summit there are views across the Lorton valley to [Grasmoor](/source/Grasmoor) and [Whiteside](/source/Whiteside_(Lake_District)).

## Topography

The [Western Fells](/source/Western_Fells) occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the [River Cocker](/source/River_Cocker%2C_Lancashire) to the north east and [Wasdale](/source/Wasdale) to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are [Great Gable](/source/Great_Gable) and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of [Ennerdale](/source/Ennerdale_Water), the western [fells](/source/Fell) in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley.[1] Fellbarrow and [Low Fell](/source/Low_Fell_(Lake_District)) stand remote from the end of the northern arm.

[Loweswater](/source/Loweswater) is unique amongst the major lakes of the District in emptying toward the centre of the [National Park](/source/Lake_District_National_Park). Its waters flow out eastwards into [Crummock Water](/source/Crummock_Water) before beginning their northward journey as the Cocker. Loweswater does not therefore represent any watershed between the fells 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 joins [Burnbank Fell](/source/Burnbank_Fell) to Low Fell and Fellbarrow, confirming them as the last outpost of the Western Fells.

The two fells form a ridge 2 miles long with the lower Fellbarrow at the northern end. [Alfred Wainwright](/source/Alfred_Wainwright) in his influential *[Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells](/source/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.[1] 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 lowest [col](/source/Mountain_pass). 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 guidebooks[2] 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](/source/Greywacke) [sandstone](/source/Sandstone) turbidities. Beneath this and occasionally outcropping on the eastern flanks are the laminated [mudstone](/source/Mudstone) and [siltstone](/source/Siltstone) of the Kirk Stile Formation.[3]

## Summit

The summit is a gently curving grassy dome, crossed by a fence, and sports an [Ordnance Survey](/source/Ordnance_Survey) [triangulation](/source/Triangulation) column and a [cairn](/source/Cairn). To west and north are the [Irish Sea](/source/Irish_Sea) and [Solway Firth](/source/Solway_Firth), seen across the Cumberland plain. To the east is a fine view of the [North Western Fells](/source/North_Western_Fells) across Lorton- the [Whiteside](/source/Whiteside_(Lake_District)) - [Grisedale Pike](/source/Grisedale_Pike) ridge perhaps the highlight- with [Skiddaw](/source/Skiddaw) and [Blencathra](/source/Blencathra) 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](/source/Pillar_(Lake_District)) and the [Scafells](/source/Scafells). No lakes or [tarns](/source/Tarn_(lake)) can be seen.[1]

## 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](/source/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](/source/Ordnance_Survey) as access land. An approach from the Mosser road is therefore a possibility.[1][2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wainwright_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wainwright_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wainwright_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wainwright_1-3) [Alfred Wainwright](/source/Alfred_Wainwright): *A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Volume 7 The Western Fells*: Westmorland Gazette (1966): [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7112-2460-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7112-2460-9)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-birkett_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-birkett_2-1) Birkett, Bill: *Complete Lakeland Fells*: Collins Willow (1994): [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-00-218406-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-00-218406-0)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BGS_3-0)** British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, *England & Wales Sheet 29*: BGS (1999)

v t e Wainwright's Western Fells Base Brown Blake Fell Brandreth Buckbarrow Burnbank Fell Caw Fell Crag Fell Fellbarrow Fleetwith Pike Gavel Fell Great Borne Great Gable Green Gable Grey Knotts Grike Haycock Haystacks Hen Comb High Crag High Stile Kirk Fell Lank Rigg Low Fell Mellbreak Middle Fell Pillar Red Pike (Buttermere) Red Pike (Wasdale) Scoat Fell Seatallan Starling Dodd Steeple Yewbarrow Full list of Wainwrights by area

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fellbarrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellbarrow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellbarrow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.