Lake District
Hart Side
756M
2480FT
About Hart Side
Rising between the Glencoyne and Deepdale valleys, Hart Side is a broad, grassy shoulder of the Helvellyn range. Often bypassed on the way to Stybarrow Dodd, it offers a quieter experience and an exceptional, direct view along the length of Ullswater towards the Far Eastern Fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
105th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
24m
Nearest Town
Matterdale
Geology
You are walking on the Birker Fell Andesite Formation. This volcanic rock was created by cooling lava flows, forming the sturdy foundation beneath your feet.
Find It
Latitude
54.5687°N
Longitude
2.9929°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Old English 'heort', indicating a fell-side historically frequented by harts, or male red deer.
- •Alfred Wainwright chose to include Hart Side as a separate fell in his Eastern Fells guide, despite its modest prominence, largely due to its distinct character and excellent position overlooking Ullswater.
- •The ridge connecting Hart Side to Green Side sits above the main vein of the Greenside Mine, which was the most successful lead mine in the Lake District before its closure in 1962.
- •The summit offers a precise view looking straight down the middle reach of Ullswater, perfectly framed by the slopes of Place Fell and the High Street range.
- •The summit plateau is so broad and flat that in thick mist, the most reliable way to know you have reached the top is to notice you have finally stopped going uphill.