Little Mell Fell: Height, Walks and Ullswater Views

Little Mell Fell is a rounded, grassy Wainwright on the north-eastern side of Ullswater, standing apart from the higher ridges of the Eastern Fells. At 505.1 metres, it offers a relatively short outing with an outlook that reaches well beyond its modest height. Its open summit and separate position are the attraction: this is a fell for looking across the landscape rather than tackling rocky ground.

A rounded fell above Ullswater

Little Mell Fell has a simple, recognisable shape: a broad dome rising above the farmland north-east of Ullswater. Its grassy slopes contrast with the crags and long ridges of the higher Eastern Fells. Great Mell Fell stands to the west, another rounded, separate summit, while Gowbarrow Fell lies closer to the lake. Together, these lower fells give this part of the district a distinctly different character from the country around Helvellyn.

The summit reaches 505.1 metres, or 1,657 feet, and is marked by a trig point. Its grid reference is NY423240. There is no narrow summit ridge or rocky pinnacle here; the appeal lies in the open ground and the space around it. Although the fell looks gentle from a distance, its grassy flanks can be steep.

Summit views and shorter walks

The outlook is a strong reason to climb Little Mell Fell. Views take in Ullswater and the surrounding fells, with the higher Eastern Fells forming a more rugged backdrop. Looking away from the central Lake District, the landscape opens towards the Eden Valley and the Pennines. That contrast between Lakeland ridges and the broader country to the east gives the summit more variety than its height might suggest.

The Hause, the col on the southern side of the fell, is a familiar starting area for a short ascent. This makes Little Mell Fell a useful choice when there is time for a smaller outing rather than a full day on the high fells. Short does not mean entirely effortless: the ascent still involves a steep grassy slope, and the open summit offers little shelter from the wind.

Little Mell Fell among the Wainwrights

Little Mell Fell appears in The Eastern Fells, the first book of Alfred Wainwright’s seven-volume pictorial guide. It ranks 173rd by height among the 214 Wainwrights. Its inclusion brings walkers beyond the region’s better-known high ridges to one of its outlying summits.

Unlike fells joined by continuous high ground, Little Mell Fell stands separately from its neighbours. Great Mell Fell and Gowbarrow Fell are nearby Wainwrights, but visiting them involves returning to lower ground. Little Mell Fell is worth considering on its own terms: a compact fell walk, a clearly marked summit and a broad view across the north-eastern Lakes.

Where Little Mell Fell stands

Summit at grid reference NY423240 · open full map

The real Little Mell Fell

Walking Little Mell Fell

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

• Little Mell Fell and Great Mell Fell - OS Maps (explore.osmaps.com)
• Little Mell Fell Route One (wainwrightroutes.co.uk)
• 2598 Little Mell Fell (hill-bagging.co.uk)

Weather on Little Mell Fell

Conditions estimated at summit height (505 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Little Mell Fell on your wall

A painting of Little Mell Fell can bring a quieter part of the Lakes into a room: the rounded summit, open grassland and higher fells beyond. As a print or canvas, it is a way to keep a familiar walk in view long after returning home.

Own “Sunlit Little Mell Fell” — our painting of Little Mell Fell → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Eastern Fells

• Gowbarrow Fell 481 m
• Great Mell Fell 537 m
• Glenridding Dodd 442 m
• Arnison Crag 433 m

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