Ill Bell

About Ill Bell

Sitting prominently on the Kentmere Horseshoe, Ill Bell is easily recognized by its sharp, conical profile. The ascent from Garburn Pass is steep and stony, but you’re rewarded with a summit featuring three massive, beautifully constructed cairns and expansive views over Windermere and the Far Eastern fells.

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Did You Know?

• •The summit is notable for its three large, beehive-style stone cairns, which are surprisingly well-maintained and serve as a distinctive landmark visible from several miles away.
• •The name 'Ill Bell' likely derives from the Old Norse 'illr', meaning evil or difficult, and the Middle English 'belle', referring to its bell-shaped profile; the 'ill' prefix likely refers to the treacherousness of its steep, scree-covered flanks.
• •The fell forms the central peak of a high ridge between Froswick and Yoke, characterized by a narrow crest that drops away steeply into the glacial troughs of Kentmere to the east and Troutbeck to the west.
• •To the west of the fell, the modern path avoids the lower slopes where the Roman Road once ran; this ancient route, known as High Street, was used by legionaries to move troops between the forts at Brougham and Ambleside.
• •While the three summit cairns provide excellent shelter for a sandwich, the real challenge is the 'knee-crunching' descent toward Garburn Pass, which offers a thorough, unsolicited workout for your joints on a path of unrelenting loose stones.