Seathwaite Fell: 601.1m Height, Walks and Views

Seathwaite Fell stands above the head of Borrowdale, a rough-backed fell easily overlooked beneath Great End. Its 601.1-metre Wainwright summit belongs to a landscape of crags, wet hollows and small rocky knolls rather than a single commanding peak. Walkers who give it time find a rewarding change of scale: close views of the surrounding high fells, open prospects down the dale and intricate ground worth noticing in its own right.

A rocky fell above Borrowdale

Seathwaite Fell occupies the ground between Styhead Gill to the west and Grains Gill to the east, immediately north of Great End. Seen from the valley around Seathwaite, its craggy northern face gives it a more substantial presence than its modest height might suggest. Above that face, the terrain becomes an uneven succession of rises and hollows. It is not a fell whose character can be summed up by one neat summit outline.

The rocks here belong to the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, the ancient volcanic formations that underpin much of the central Lake District. Their rugged character is apparent in the outcrops and broken ground. Water is equally important to the scene: becks flank the fell, while tarns and damp depressions interrupt the rocky upland. Even within a small area, the walking terrain can change markedly between firm rock, grass and boggy ground.

Tarns and close views of the high fells

Sprinkling Tarn lies at the southern end of Seathwaite Fell, beneath Great End. It is one of the best-known features associated with the fell, although many walkers encounter the tarn while travelling through the surrounding high country rather than making Seathwaite Fell their main objective. Its setting gives a clear sense of the contrast here: relatively low, undulating foreground beneath a much larger wall of mountain rock.

Styhead Tarn lies to the west, below the crossing of Sty Head. Great Gable is a strong presence in that direction, while Great End dominates the southern skyline. Looking north, the prospect opens towards Borrowdale. These contrasts are central to the fell's appeal. It offers both close studies of crag and fellside and a longer view into the inhabited dale, without needing the height of its larger neighbours.

Seathwaite Fell in the Southern Fells

Seathwaite Fell appears in The Southern Fells, Book Four of Alfred Wainwright's Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. At 601.1 metres, or 1,972 feet, it ranks 130th among the 214 Wainwrights. Great End, Allen Crags, Glaramara and Esk Pike are neighbouring Wainwrights, placing it within one of Lakeland's most extensively walked upland areas.

Seathwaite in Borrowdale is the usual valley starting point for walks here. The surrounding paths also serve much bigger mountain outings, but Seathwaite Fell deserves consideration as a destination rather than an incidental addition. Its rough ground and comparatively indistinct topography reward careful navigation, particularly when cloud obscures the surrounding landmarks.

Where Seathwaite Fell stands

Summit at grid reference NY229101 · open full map

The real Seathwaite Fell

Walking Seathwaite Fell

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

• Seathwaite Fell - Borrowdale walks (andrewswalks.co.uk)
• Allen Crags and Seathwaite Fell from Seathwaite (jimearl6.com)
• Seathwaite Fell (walklakes.co.uk)

Weather on Seathwaite Fell

Conditions estimated at summit height (601 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Seathwaite Fell on your wall

A painting of Seathwaite Fell can hold onto what makes this corner of Borrowdale distinctive: broken rock, tarn water and the weight of Great End beyond. As a print or canvas at home, it offers a familiar connection to days spent among the Southern Fells.

Own “Winter Sunlight Over Seathwaite Fell” — our painting of Seathwaite Fell → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Southern Fells

• Great End 910 m
• Allen Crags 785 m
• Glaramara 783 m
• Esk Pike 885 m

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