Scoat Fell [Little Scoat Fell]

About Scoat Fell [Little Scoat Fell]

Resting at the heart of the Mosedale Horseshoe, this high, stony plateau is defined by the long drystone wall traversing its summit. While often overshadowed by the dramatic spur of Steeple, it offers a rugged sense of isolation and acts as a crucial high-altitude junction between Ennerdale and Wasdale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'skot', meaning a projection or jutting piece of land, describing how the fell’s northern ridge thrusts out toward Ennerdale.
• •Alfred Wainwright considered this the 'hub' of the western fells, noting that while the plateau is sprawling, the massive boundary wall crossing the summit serves as an infallible guide for walkers caught in the mist.
• •Though it appears as a formidable individual mountain from the valley floor, the iconic, craggy peak of Steeple is geographically a subsidiary top of Scoat Fell, linked by a narrow, rocky neck of land.
• •Standing at the summit cairn provides an exceptional view of the Scafell range across the depths of Mosedale, while the sharp ridge of Steeple draws the eye down to the dark waters of Ennerdale Water.
• •The summit is so level and featureless that the actual highest point is often identified as a specific, slightly taller-than-average pile of stones built directly on top of the boundary wall.