Great Meldrum

About Great Meldrum

Often bypassed by walkers heading for the more famous Gowbarrow Fell, this quiet, grassy summit offers one of the most intimate views of Ullswater. Rising above the Aira Force woodland, its heathery slopes provide a tranquil escape with clear sightlines across the lake towards the High Street range and Pooley Bridge.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'melr', meaning a bare hill or sandbank, combined with 'drum', a ridge. Together with its neighbour, Little Meldrum, it forms a distinct pair of heights that define the skyline north of the Aira Valley.
• •Though omitted from Alfred Wainwright’s seven volumes, Great Meldrum is a staple for those completing the Birketts. Bill Birkett highlighted the area for its 'wild, untamed feel' despite its modest height and proximity to the popular tourist paths below.
• •The summit offers an exceptional vantage point for observing the geography of Ullswater’s 'middle reach', providing a direct line of sight to the sharp profile of Place Fell and the steep-sided valley of Martindale across the water.
• •The fell was historically part of the Gowbarrow deer park; the sturdy stone walls that still traverse the slopes are remnants of the ancient boundaries used to manage the local Red Deer herd.
• •It is the perfect destination for the antisocial walker; while the rest of the county is fighting for a parking space at Aira Force, you can usually enjoy the top of Great Meldrum in the company of nothing more than a few disinterested sheep.