A difficult route in Eastern Fells. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: Roadside parking, Brownrigg area (NY 407 246) — limited spaces, arrive early
Terrain: Track along woods edge, path, open fell climb, summit paths, Routing Gill area, field path, footbridge, boggy field (path hard to see — aim for Green Barn), road, farm track (red squirrel country), clear fell path, steep descent, road, Ullswater Way, clear track, woodland, Priest's Crag, crags path, summit, wall descent, gate, path around Norman Crag, road, field paths, footbridge, Matterdale End road, track (muddy at start, improves) MOUNTAIN NOTE: This walk covers three Wainwright summits with 876m of ascent over 18 kilometres. The terrain is varied and generally straightforward but the boggy section after the footbridge near Brownrigg Farm requires some care in wet conditions. Appropriate footwear recommended.
Three modest fells that add up to a thoroughly rewarding 18-kilometre day in a lesser-visited corner of the eastern Lake District. Great Mell Fell is an atmospheric opener despite the cloud on our visit, and the route through to Little Mell Fell via the road and Lowthwaite track passes through prime red squirrel territory — they were abundant on our visit and the sight of them flickering through the trees above the track is one of the simple pleasures that walking in this part of the Lakes can deliver. Little Mell Fell's northward view to Blencathra is unexpectedly fine for such a quiet summit, and the Ullswater Way carries you pleasantly south to Gowbarrow Fell, the finest viewpoint of the three, with Ullswater spread below and the great fells ranged all around. The return via Ulcat Row, Matterdale End and the improving track is straightforward and brings you back to the car with three Wainwrights in the bag and a very good chance of having seen a red squirrel along the way. A walk that rewards the modest effort asked of it handsomely.