Lake District
Blakeley Raise
389M
1276FT
About Blakeley Raise
Overlooked because it’s not a Wainwright, this modest Western Fell offers a quiet alternative to its popular neighbors. The grassy summit provides a clear perspective on the transition from high fells to the West Cumbrian coast, with particularly sharp views over the Ennerdale valley and out toward the Irish Sea.
Key Statistics
Rank
627th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
35
Nearest Town
Ennerdale Bridge
Geology
You are walking upon the Buttermere Formation, a landscape built from sturdy layers of mudstone and sandstone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY069135
Latitude
54.5084°N
Longitude
3.4380°W
Did You Know?
- •The name combines the Old English 'blaec leah' (black clearing) with the Old Norse 'hreysi' (a cairn), suggesting a dark, stony mound used as a landmark or burial site.
- •While ignored by Alfred Wainwright, the hill is championed by Bill Birkett and Tim Synge, making it a staple for those looking to complete the lesser-known lists of Lakeland fells.
- •Just below the summit lies the Blakeley Raise stone circle (also known as Kinsie How), a Bronze Age monument that suggests these western moorlands were significantly more populated in prehistoric times than they are today.
- •The summit offers a unique visual contrast, looking inland toward the high peaks of the Pillar range and seaward across the industrial coastline to the Isle of Man.
- •It is likely the only fell where your summit panorama is dominated as much by the intricate skyline of the Sellafield nuclear site as it is by the distant hills of Southern Scotland.