The rolling, grassy expanses of Broom Fell stretching beyond Widow's Hause

Broom Fell

Height511m (1,667ft)

Prominence27m (89ft)

RegionNorth Western Fells

Climbed2 Times

Broom Fell stretches out across the quiet northern ridges as a modest, grassy hill that is relatively rarely scaled by casual walkers, despite capturing a dedicated spot within Alfred Wainwright's highly influential guides. Geographically, the mountain rests along the undulating, low-altitude ridge connecting the grander massifs of Lord's Seat and Graystones. The expansive top is largely characterized by uniform sheep pasture, where the geographical lines are marked by an old drystone boundary wall arriving directly up from the trenches of Aiken Beck to the southwest.

"Broom Fell is the geographical centre of the upland mass rising between Bassenthwaite Lake in the north and Whinlatter Pass in the south but acknowledges the superiority of a near and higher neighbour, Lord's Seat, to which it is connected by a high ridge. There is little of interest on this rounded grassy hill." — Wainwright 1957, Book Two

The mountain features a slightly unusual structural puzzle regarding its landmarks. While the absolute geographical highest point sits quietly on a featureless patch of turf to the southeast, the visual identity of the summit is stolen by a spectacular, tall columnar stone cairn and an adjacent curved stone wind shelter constructed right out of the ancient wall boundary. Situated roughly 170 metres northwest of the true apex, this imposing architectural column serves as the definitive high-altitude marker for hikers, framing a brilliant southward view across the deep gap to the magnificent Whiteside to Grisedale Pike ridge and the massive forms of the Grasmoor fells beyond.

The magnificent, tall columnar stone cairn standing proudly near the summit crest of Broom Fell

Trip Reports

A Whinlatter Round05/10/2014

Barf, Lord's Seat & Broom Fell01/02/2014

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