Lake District
Burthwaite Heights
318M
1043FT
About Burthwaite Heights
Rising quietly above Bassenthwaite Village, this minor Birkett offers a tranquil alternative to the crowded Skiddaw massif. The grassy summit provides an intimate perspective across the water to the wooded slopes of Dodd, making it a worthwhile detour for those seeking solitude and a distinct view of the northern fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
745th Highest in Region
Parent Range
North Western Fells
Prominence
?
15m
Nearest Town
Embleton
Geology
You are walking on the Kirk Stile Formation. This ground is made of ancient mud and silt that compressed into layers of solid rock.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY188283
Latitude
54.6436°N
Longitude
3.2587°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is rooted in Old Norse, combining 'bur' (a storehouse or dwelling) with 'thveit' (a clearing), suggesting this was once an outlying area of managed farmland.
- •Bill Birkett included these heights in his 'Complete Lakeland Fells', valuing the hill for its seclusion and the unique angle it provides on the more famous 'Back o' Skiddaw' fells to the east.
- •Most walkers approach the summit from the quiet lanes near Bassenthwaite Village, often combining it with a circuit of the neighbouring Wythop Fells, such as Ling Fell and Sale Fell.
- •The summit offers a clear, low-level view of the distinctive 'Bishop of Barf'—a white-painted rock on the scree slopes of Barf—directly across the surface of Bassenthwaite Lake.
- •At 318 metres, it stands at a height that makes it a significant climb for a toddler, but barely a warm-up for the local fell runners who treat these lower slopes as a training ground.