The rolling, heather-clad slopes of Ling Fell captured from the south

Ling Fell

Height373m (1,224ft)

Prominence97m (318ft)

RegionNorth Western Fells

Climbed1 Time

Ling Fell rises on the absolute northwestern boundary of the Lake District, deriving its descriptive name from the dense carpets of heather—historically known as ling—that blanket its slopes. Along with its near-twin companion to the east, Sale Fell, these two rounded outposts represent the final hills retaining any true Lakeland character before the high fells give way to the coastal plain. Interestingly, despite standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the two fells possess no direct topographical connection to one another; Ling Fell's geological parent massif is the higher Broom Fell to the south, whereas Sale Fell exists as an independent outlier of Lord's Seat.

"Ling Fell is an isolated rounded hill on the north-west perimeter of Lakeland, its unattractive appearance on all sides being accentuated by a dark covering of heather that makes it look gloomy and sulky even on the sunniest of days. Its lack of visual appeal, however, is somewhat misleading and belies its nature". — Wainwright 1957, Book Two

The true summit is a smooth, wonderfully unhindered grassy dome, where the absolute high point is marked by a classic concrete Ordnance Survey triangulation column. While the immediate horizon looking directly south is severed by the elevated bulk of Broom Fell, the position still serves up a brilliant view across to the massive profiles of the Skiddaw and Grasmoor ranges. The ultimate highlight of the vantage point, however, is looking northward, where the ground falls away to reveal a spectacular, expansive coastal panorama tracing the wide waters of the Solway Firth out toward the distant hills of Galloway in Scotland.

The solid concrete Ordnance Survey triangulation pillar standing on the smooth dome of Ling Fell

Trip Reports

Ling Fell & Sale Fell27/01/2015

Return to Lake District – North Western Fells