Lake District
Great Bank
329M
1079FT
About Great Bank
Rising above Eskdale Green, this rugged minor summit offers a quiet alternative to the high fells. It sits on the ridge between Eskdale and Miterdale, providing a superb perspective on the granite outcrops of the lower valley and a long-range view toward the Scafell massif. It is a rewarding Birkett for those seeking solitude.
Key Statistics
Rank
728th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
13m
Nearest Town
Eskdale Green
Geology
You are walking on a foundation of solid granite and microgranite. These hard rocks formed from cooling molten liquid deep beneath the ground.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY143019
Latitude
54.4057°N
Longitude
3.3203°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is a simple descriptive term; 'Bank' derives from the Old Norse bakki, referring to a ridge or the side of a hill, used here to describe the steep ground rising above the Mite and Esk valleys.
- •Although it stands at a modest 329 metres, the summit offers an exceptionally clear view of the Scafell range, framing the massive crags of Scafell and Slight Side against the deep trough of Upper Eskdale.
- •This hill serves as a strategic waypoint on the classic ridge walk between Eskdale Green and the dramatic Wastwater Screes, sitting comfortably between the lower Irton Fell and the loftier Whin Rigg.
- •Bill Birkett included this summit in his list of Lakeland fells, noting its position as an excellent viewpoint for observing the 'La'al Ratty' narrow-gauge steam trains puffing along the valley floor near Irton Road station.
- •Calling a 329-metre hill 'Great' might seem like an exercise in local optimism, but in the context of the smaller mounds in the lower Esk valley, it earns its title by being the most prominent feature in the immediate vicinity.