Brown Hills

Rising above Glenridding, these grassy slopes form a broad, undulating shoulder on the northern approach to Great Dodd. A quiet Birkett summit, it offers a serene, elevated vantage point over the winding reaches of Ullswater and the craggy eastern face of Place Fell across the valley.

• •The name is purely descriptive, referring to the tawny colour of the fescue and bent grasses that cover the slopes during the winter months, contrasting with the grey rock of the higher Helvellyn range.
• •Though often bypassed by those heading for the 900-metre peaks, author Tim Synge included this in his summit list for the unique perspective it provides looking into the deep, glaciated trough of the Glenridding valley.
• •The hill overlooks the historic site of the Greenside Mine; once the most productive lead mine in the Lake District, its spoil heaps and old levels are still clearly visible in the valley bottom below.
• •From the 551-metre summit, the view north-east is dominated by the distinctive, rounded shapes of Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell, which stand isolated against the flatter landscape of the Eden Valley.
• •Identifying the actual summit among the various grassy hummocks can be an exercise in patience, as each undulation looks remarkably like the highest point until you stand on top of it.