Fellbarrow: 416m Height, Walks and Western Fell Views

Fellbarrow is a grassy fell on the north-western edge of Lakeland, standing above the country between Loweswater and the Vale of Lorton. At 416m, it offers a gentler setting than the high, craggy fells further east, but its position gives the views considerable reach. Often walked with neighbouring Low Fell, it rewards attention in its own right: open slopes, a rounded summit and a clear sense of Lakeland meeting the coastal countryside.

A grassy summit above Lorton

Fellbarrow stands north of Low Fell, with the Vale of Lorton to the east and the lower countryside around Mosser to the west. Its rounded outline belongs to the pastoral edge of the Lake District rather than its rocky centre. Grass is the defining surface here, and the summit is marked by a triangulation pillar. The highest point is 416m, or 1,365ft, at grid reference NY132242.

The outlook is a large part of its appeal. Across Lorton, the higher ground of Whiteside and Grasmoor provides a strong contrast to Fellbarrow’s softer slopes. Towards the west and north-west, the landscape opens towards the Cumbrian coastal plain and the Solway Firth, with the Scottish hills visible in clear conditions. This meeting of fell country and lower farmland gives the summit a different character from tops enclosed by higher ridges.

Fellbarrow in the Western Fells

Alfred Wainwright included Fellbarrow in The Western Fells, the seventh book of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. It ranks 200th by height among the 214 Wainwrights. That modest standing is useful context, but it says little about the extent of the outlook or the interest of its position at the edge of the district.

Low Fell is its immediate companion to the south, connected by an undulating grassy ridge. The two are commonly combined in one walk, allowing walkers to compare viewpoints along the same small group of fells. Other nearby Wainwrights include Burnbank Fell, Blake Fell and Hen Comb, which belong to the neighbouring Loweswater landscape. Together, these lower Western Fells offer a useful counterpoint to the higher, more rugged country around Buttermere and Ennerdale.

Walking Fellbarrow and Low Fell

Fellbarrow’s walking appeal rests on its open ground, its connection with Low Fell and its broad outward views rather than a dramatic summit crag. Walks are commonly planned from the Loweswater or Thackthwaite areas, with the choice depending on whether Fellbarrow is the main objective or part of a longer outing. A dedicated route guide and current mapping are the best sources for access details.

Its relatively low height should not be mistaken for shelter. The summit is open to the weather, and wet grass, wind and low cloud can change the feel of a day here. Clear conditions make the most of Fellbarrow’s particular strength: seeing how the high fells give way to the fields and wider horizons of western Cumbria.

Where Fellbarrow stands

Summit at grid reference NY132242 · open full map

The real Fellbarrow

Walking Fellbarrow

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Guide links to be curated.

Weather on Fellbarrow

Conditions estimated at summit height (416 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Fellbarrow on your wall

Fellbarrow’s rounded grass slopes and wide horizons offer a quieter subject than Lakeland’s great crags. A painting of this fell can bring that sense of open country into a room, recalling a walk with Low Fell or the changing light above the Vale of Lorton.

Own “Sunlight and Shadow on Fellbarrow” — our painting of Fellbarrow → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Western Fells

• Low Fell 422 m
• Burnbank Fell 475 m
• Blake Fell 573 m
• Hen Comb 506 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.