Lake District
Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell
385M
1263FT
About Hatteringill Head - Whin Fell
Whin Fell is a grassy, understated ridge-top often visited as part of the Fellbarrow circuit. It offers a gentler alternative to the rocky crags nearby, providing exceptional, unobstructed views across the Lorton Valley toward the imposing mass of Grasmoor and the High Stile range.
Key Statistics
Rank
630th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
21m
Nearest Town
Loweswater
Geology
You are walking on Loweswater Formation, a layer of wacke rock that makes up the fell's surface.
Find It
Latitude
54.6105°N
Longitude
3.3433°W
Did You Know?
- •Hatteringill Head serves as the 385-metre high point on the southern end of the Whin Fell ridge, positioned between the more prominent summits of Fellbarrow and Low Fell.
- •The name 'Whin' derives from the Old Norse or Middle English word for gorse, a hardy evergreen shrub that still punctuates the lower, eastern slopes of the fell.
- •Geologically, the area is underpinned by the Kirk Stile Formation of the Skiddaw Group, leading to the smooth, rounded profiles characteristic of the northwestern Lake District fells.
- •The summit is marked by a modest cairn, but the real draw is the vantage point over the Lorton Valley, which Alfred Wainwright praised for its pastoral beauty compared to the ruggedness of the central peaks.
- •The transition from Whin Fell to Fellbarrow is deceptively easy on the map, but in reality, it often involves navigating a series of invisible bogs that seem specifically designed to test the waterproofing of your gaiters.