Steel Fell

Steel Fell

Height553m (1,814ft)

Prominence80m (262ft)

RegionCentral Fells

Climbed3 Times

"Travellers north along the main road over Dunmail Raise are accompanied by a rising ridge of high ground that culminates in a formidable wall of rough fell overlooking the pass itself and then falls abruptly to valley-level before Thirlmere is reached. This familiar height is Steel Fell." — A. Wainwright

Rising formidably directly to the west of the Dunmail Raise pass, Steel Fell forms an impressive, steep-sided guardian above the main highway connecting Grasmere to Keswick. A popular and direct route to the top climbs the steady, mile-long sloping spur of Cotra Breast, ascending straight out of the valley floor.

The upper reaches broaden into a triangular moorland plateau roughly half a mile across, forming the eastern end of the ridge extending towards Calf Crag and High Raise.

The summit on a lovely summer evening

Like several Lakeland summits, the high point itself carries a distinct local name: Dead Pike. Marked by a large, prominent stone cairn set on grassy ground, the summit commands fine perspectives looking south over Grasmere and across the pass towards the Eastern Fells.

Trip Reports

The Greenburn Round09/12/2017

Steel Fell25/07/2015

Easedale08/09/2013

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