Rosthwaite Fell: Height (551m), Walks and Views

Rosthwaite Fell rises above Borrowdale in a tangle of rocky knolls, crags and small hollows. Its Wainwright summit, Bessyboot, stands at 551m, but height alone says little about this absorbing patch of fell country. Walkers who enjoy picking out the shape of the land will find plenty to appreciate here: rough ground, the quiet water of Tarn at Leaves and close views into the surrounding valleys.

A rocky fell above Borrowdale

Rosthwaite Fell occupies the northern end of the high ground extending from Glaramara towards Borrowdale. Stonethwaite lies below its eastern side, while the Seathwaite valley lies to the west. From the valley floor, steep slopes and crags give it a substantial presence despite its modest recorded height. Above those slopes, the ground breaks into a succession of rocky tops and hollows rather than forming one simple, continuous summit ridge.

Tarn at Leaves is a distinctive feature of this upper ground, lying between Bessyboot and the higher rocks of Rosthwaite Cam. Its setting helps explain the fell's appeal: water, rock and rough grass share a compact area that rewards attention. This is not simply a viewpoint to reach and leave. The changing relationship between its knolls, the tarn and the surrounding fells is much of its character.

Bessyboot and the Wainwright summit

Rosthwaite Fell appears in Alfred Wainwright's Book Four, The Southern Fells. The summit used for the Wainwright list is Bessyboot, at 551m (1,808ft), with the grid reference NY258124. That places it 148th in height among the 214 Wainwrights. It is worth distinguishing this listed top from the highest ground bearing the Rosthwaite Fell name.

Rosthwaite Cam reaches about 612m and stands farther south. The difference matters when comparing maps, walking accounts and summit lists: reaching the highest rocks of the wider fell is not the same thing as visiting its designated Wainwright summit. This distinction is one of Rosthwaite Fell's most useful points of reference, particularly for walkers keeping a record of the 214.

Views and walking character

The outlook is strongly shaped by Borrowdale and the nearby fells. Bessyboot offers views towards the valley and across its enclosing slopes, while Glaramara gives the southern skyline a higher, more rugged backdrop. The interest is as much in the close detail of crags and valley sides as in distant summits.

Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite are familiar starting areas for walks on the fell. Its broken upper ground deserves care in poor visibility: numerous small rises and hollows can make the landscape less straightforward than its height suggests. A dedicated route guide and a proper map are useful companions, whether Bessyboot is the day's objective or part of a longer outing towards Glaramara.

Where Rosthwaite Fell stands

Summit at grid reference NY258124 · open full map

The real Rosthwaite Fell

Walking Rosthwaite Fell

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

• Rosthwaite Fell aka Bessyboot (walklakes.co.uk)
• Bessyboot - Rosthwaite Fell walk (andrewswalks.co.uk)
• Rosthwaite Fell, Cumbria, England - 215 Reviews, Map (alltrails.com)

Weather on Rosthwaite Fell

Conditions estimated at summit height (551 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Rosthwaite Fell on your wall

A painting of Rosthwaite Fell can bring Borrowdale's quieter details into a room: the broken skyline, rough grass and water held among the rocks. For anyone who knows Bessyboot, those familiar shapes can recall a day on the fell without needing a grand panorama.

Own “Vibrant Tarn Below Rosthwaite Fell” — our painting of Rosthwaite Fell → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Southern Fells

• Glaramara 783 m
• Rossett Pike 651 m
• Allen Crags 785 m
• Seathwaite Fell 601 m

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