Smithy Fell

Smithy Fell is a gentle, grassy shoulder situated on the ridge connecting Fellbarrow and Low Fell. While often bypassed by hikers rushing toward the more famous viewpoints of Loweswater, it provides a quiet, airy spot to appreciate the rolling terrain of the northern Western Fells.

• •The fell is classified as a 'Birkett,' one of the 541 hills in the Lake District over 1000ft included in Bill Birkett’s influential 1994 guidebook.
• •The ridge is composed of Skiddaw Slate, some of the oldest rock in the Lake District, which typically results in the smooth, grassy profiles seen here compared to the craggy volcanic rocks further south.
• •Its name likely refers to historical small-scale ironwork or a local forge that once served the rural farming communities in the nearby Lorton Vale or Thackthwaite.
• •The surrounding slopes are a prime habitat for ground-nesting birds like skylarks and meadow pipits, whose song is a constant companion on the climb from Loweswater.
• •While the gradient is easy, the ground is remarkably efficient at retaining water; expect a 'refreshing' squelch in your boots if you deviate even slightly from the main ridge path.