Route: Sale Fell
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 27th August 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.4 miles
Weather: Cloudy at start but gradually improved to near perfect
The weather was poor in the morning – dark clouds and some torrential rain – and so I decided to keep my powder dry until the afternoon before setting off on today’s walk. This only left time for a low lying fell. Sale Fell is number 208 out of 214 on the list of Wainwrights, but it’s higher than that in terms of its beauty, and so the route was decided
I parked in one of the roadside spaces beyond Wythop and started up the gentle slopes of the fell. It was very easy going and before long I was admiring the view from the top. The views from Lothwaite lower down however are better in my opinion, as Bassenthwaite and Derwent Water come into view, and Skiddaw looms ahead ever closer
The weather improved rapidly and by the time I reached Lothwaite to start out on the return leg it was nigh perfect. An easy path follows the contours of the fellside, with lovely views across the valley all the way. Eventually I rejoined my original ascent path and retraced my steps back to the start
Sale Fell is not a dramatic place, there are no crags or steep drops, but it’s well worth a visit and I’d thoroughly enjoyed the outing
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden the morning of the walk
Later that day, the start of the walk up the northern flank of Sale Fell
A view of Bassenthwaite Lake opens up, with Binsey beyond
Further along the easy path
The path splits and I turn left here, and will return via the path on the right
Looking across the valley to Embleton
Looking across the quiet Wythop Valley
Wythop Valley again
Looking back down the gentle ascent path
Summit of Sale Fell ahead, with Ullock Pike and Skiddaw beyond
Summit of Sale Fell, looking towards Keswick
Heather clad Ullock Pike as I descend towards Lothwaite
Top of Rivings
Looking towards the coast from Rivings, with Sale Fell up on the right
I continue along the ridge towards Lothwaite
The view of Bassenthwaite Lake and Skiddaw from Lothwaite is better than that from Sale Fell
The lovely path contours round the fellside into Wythop Valley
Dodd to the left
Entering Chapel Wood
Chapel Wood
The old ruined chapel, built in 1673, was replaced by a larger building - St Margaret’s Church
Walking past the ruins as I leave Chapel Wood
Kelswick ahead
Looking path along the path
I walk along the track from Kelswick for 100 yards or so…
…and then pick up a path which continues to contour round the lower slopes of Sale Fell
As I round the corner, Bassenthwaite Lake comes into view again, and I rejoin the original ascent path
It just remains to retrace my steps back to the start
Nearly there - what a delightful short walk
