Dunmallet [Dunmallard Hill]

About Dunmallet [Dunmallard Hill]

Rising steeply above the village of Pooley Bridge, this conical, tree-covered mound provides a quick escape from the valley bustle. Though the thick woodland obscures much of the summit vista, the clear path through the trees reveals glimpses of Ullswater’s northern reach and the surrounding Eastern Fells.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Brythonic 'din' meaning fort and the Gaelic 'mallacht' meaning cursed, potentially translating to 'the fort of the cursed one.' Historically, it has been recorded under various spellings, including Dunmalloght and Dunmallock.
• •Alfred Wainwright included this hill in his Outlying Fells of Lakeland, characterising the short ascent from Pooley Bridge as a 'simple after-dinner stroll' that requires very little effort for its modest elevation.
• •The summit plateau is the site of a significant Iron Age hill fort. While heavily overgrown today, the remains of its double ramparts and a surrounding ditch are still discernible among the trees, marking it as an ancient defensive position overlooking the Eamont valley.
• •Although the dense canopy of Dunmallet Woods restricts panoramic views, the ascent offers specific, framed glimpses of the historic bridge at Pooley Bridge and the tranquil northern basin of Ullswater stretching towards the dark profile of Hallin Fell.
• •For those who prefer their mountain vistas unobstructed by botanical interference, the summit may prove a touch frustrating; it is one of the few places in Lakeland where the 'top' provides significantly less of a view than the path used to reach it.