Lake District
Arnsbarrow Hill
322M
1056FT
About Arnsbarrow Hill
Tucked away in the quiet Blawith Fells south of Coniston, this modest heathery summit offers a solitary experience. It sits above the lily-padded Top Tarn, providing a rugged, undulating terrain typical of the lower Southern Fells and excellent views over Coniston Water towards the Old Man of Coniston and Dow Crag.
Key Statistics
Rank
734th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
24m
Nearest Town
High Nibthwaite
Geology
You are walking on the Bannisdale Formation, which is made of alternating layers of compressed silt and hardened mud.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD311911
Latitude
54.3115°N
Longitude
3.0605°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'örn', meaning eagle, and 'berg', meaning hill or mound, suggesting this was once a vantage point for birds of prey overlooking the southern fells.
- •It is one of the more southerly peaks included in Bill Birkett’s guidebook, sitting within the undulating, often pathless landscape of Bethecar Moor.
- •The summit overlooks Top Tarn, a quiet pool that sits in a rocky hollow just to the north-east; it is well-known among locals for its display of water lilies during the summer months.
- •From the top, the view north provides a striking perspective of the Coniston fells, while to the south, the landscape opens up towards the Leven Estuary and the sands of Morecambe Bay.
- •Navigation here is a lesson in patience; the ground is a labyrinth of knolls and peat hags designed to ensure that any straight line drawn on a map remains purely theoretical.