Lake District
Keldas
311M
1020FT
About Keldas
Overlooking the southern reaches of Ullswater, this wooded outcrop provides a grandstand view of the lake for very little effort. Rising above Patterdale, it is often visited alongside nearby Lanty’s Tarn. Though modest in height, its position offers a clear perspective across the water toward the rugged slopes of Place Fell.
Key Statistics
Rank
756th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
35m
Nearest Town
Glenridding
Geology
You are walking over ancient layers of volcanic ash and hardened rock. This landscape was shaped by powerful eruptions that left behind compressed debris and sandy volcanic sediments.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY385162
Latitude
54.5382°N
Longitude
2.9518°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Keldas derives from the Old Norse word 'kelda', meaning a spring or fountain, likely referring to the water sources feeding into the valley below.
- •Though it missed out on Wainwright status, the hill is classified as a Synge, appearing in Tim Synge’s guide to the Lakeland Fells which captures peaks over 300 metres.
- •The summit offers a unique perspective on the 'elbow' of Ullswater, providing a clear view of the Glenridding steamer pier and the deep valley of Grisedale leading towards St Sunday Crag.
- •The fell was historically part of the Patterdale Hall estate; the nearby Lanty’s Tarn was enhanced by the Marshall family in the 19th century to serve as a private ice reservoir and trout pond.
- •Given the dense tree cover on its lower slopes, it is one of the few summits in the Eastern Fells where you can successfully bag a peak while remaining almost entirely shielded from a Lake District gale.