Lake District
Armboth Fell
475M
1558FT
About Armboth Fell
Armboth Fell is a modest, often overlooked height sitting on the ridge between the Thirlmere valley and the hidden hamlet of Watendlath. While the summit is notoriously boggy and lacks a distinct peak, the views across Thirlmere toward the Helvellyn range are surprisingly impressive.
Key Statistics
Rank
469th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
26m
Nearest Town
St. John's Castlerigg and Wythburn
Geology
You’re walking on the Birker Fell Andesite Formation, a layer of volcanic rock called andesite that formed from ancient lava flows.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.5320°N
Longitude
3.0897°W
Did You Know?
- •Armboth Fell is classified as a Wainwright in the Central Fells, serving as a high point on the undulating ridge that separates the Thirlmere reservoir from the valley of Watendlath.
- •The name 'Armboth' is rooted in Old Norse, likely combining the personal name 'Arni' or 'ern' (eagle) with 'buth', meaning a temporary summer dwelling or shieling used by Norse settlers.
- •The summit plateau is remarkably featureless, characterized by a vast expanse of peat hags and heather, with only a small, mossy rock outcrop marking the official highest point.
- •Below the fell’s eastern slopes lies the site of the former Armboth House, a grand manor once visited by the poet William Wordsworth before the Thirlmere valley was flooded to create the reservoir.
- •Navigating this fell usually involves more 'bog-hopping' than actual hiking; it is widely considered a prime candidate for the most waterlogged ground in the Lake District, regardless of the season.