Cold Fell

About Cold Fell

Standing as a lonely western sentinel near Egremont, this Wainwright Outlying Fell offers a sharp transition from the industrial coast to the rugged interior. Its broad, often boggy slopes reward walkers with a unique panorama, contrasting the Sellafield complex and Irish Sea against the high silhouettes of Pillar and Great Gable.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is a straightforward English description, likely earned from its exposed position on the western edge of the Lake District where it catches the full force of weather systems moving in from the Irish Sea.
• •Alfred Wainwright included this hill in his final guide, 'The Outlying Fells of Lakeland', where he highlighted the 'startling' contrast between the nuclear chimneys of the coast and the ancient peaks of the high fells.
• •Looking west across the water on a clear day, the horizon is frequently broken by the silhouette of the Isle of Man and the distant hills of Galloway, including the distinctive peak of Criffel in Scotland.
• •The summit cairn provides an excellent vantage point for surveying the Ennerdale fells to the northeast, offering a perspective of the range that is often missed by those climbing the higher peaks directly.
• •Despite its modest height, the fell is a prominent landmark for those travelling the coastal road, serving as the first true hint of the mountainous terrain that lies further inland.
• •A walk here usually guarantees a quiet experience; while the central fells are often crowded, you are more likely to share this summit with a Herdwick sheep than another hiker.