Lonscale Fell. That pointy bit is Lonscale Pike, a secondary summit.

Lonscale Fell

Pictorial Guide: Northern Fells

Visited: 17 May 2025

Height: 715m, 2,346′

Ascent Route: from Cumbria Way, near Skiddaw House

Descent Route: ridge walk to Skiddaw Little Man

It’s May 2025 and I’m heading to the Lakes for four days of fell bagging. After a gentle first day visiting two Outlying Fells (Dunmallet and Heughscar Hill), my second day saw a tour of the fells behind Blencathra, before arriving at Skiddaw House hostel. For day three I explored Uldale, and for my final day I was to explore Skiddaw and the fells all round about. And I started with Lonscale Fell.

I was in no particular desire to leave Skiddaw House and head back to the normal world. Of course, if I stayed long enough, there may come the time when I’d get fed up of living off grid. Of not having a phone or WiFi connection. But after two nights, this had yet to come. I would have been happy to spend a few more days tramping over the fells. But you can’t stay walking for ever. There’s bills to pay, jobs to do, families to care for.

On the other hand the heat was playing havoc with my feet. Bloomin’ heatwaves. Here I was in hot weather with walking socks and solid, well built boots, and they were getting far too warm. A big part of me couldn’t wait to get back to ground level and slip on a pair of lightweight trainers.

Still, before all that, I had one more day of walking before heading home. A day touring the Skiddaw Massif. One that would take in six fells. And I was starting with Lonscale Fell.

Skiddaw Forest, seen from the slopes of Lonscale Fell.

Wainwright describes Lonscale Fell as having all the interest on its eastern face. This was rather convenient as that was the face closest to Skiddaw House. I could get there with ease by walking over the Burnt Horse ridge. This was a ridge, covered with heather, and accessed by a grass covered hillside. It was a pretty steep climb, but the ridge offered a chance to take in Lonscale’s fine north east buttress, and its triangular pointed east peak.

The east peak is so distinctive, so dominating in the view of the climb that it’s easy to assume it is actually the very top. It isn’t, and that honour goes to a far grassier, flatter area nearby, marked by a small cairn. And one that also had a most enjoyable view towards Thirlmere, Keswick and Derwent Water too. All viewed without a hint of cloud. Three days bright blue skies. I was beyond lucky.

The summit of Lonscale Fell.

But that secondary summit, Wainwright said, was well worth a visit too. So under his strict instructions I walked the short distance to it. There I was rewarded with a fine glimpse of Blencathra basking in the sunlight. And down below the paths snaking up the hillside towards a place I’d just left and was already missing.

Later that day people would be using that path to reach that mighty hostel. Some would get to enjoy Skiddaw House whilst I was heading home. It was more than likely. It was a Saturday. Would any of them arrive there after visiting Lonscale Fell? That I didn’t know. But if they had, well I’d raise a toast to them.

Next time: Skiddaw Little Man.

The wonderful view from Lonscale Fell.