Souther Fell

Rising steeply above the village of Mungrisdale, this long, grassy ridge offers a gentle introduction to the Northern Fells. While its summit is modest, it serves as a spectacular grandstand, providing a clear, profile-view of the dramatic Sharp Edge and the towering crags of its neighbour, Blencathra.

• •The name is derived from the Old Norse 'suðr', meaning southern, identifying its position as the fell directly to the south of the settlement at Mungrisdale.
• •The fell is the site of a famous local legend; on Midsummer's Day in 1745, over two dozen witnesses claimed to see a spectral army of cavalry and infantry marching across the summit ridge, despite no such force being in the area.
• •Alfred Wainwright regarded this fell as a 'charming place for an easy walk,' specifically recommending it as the best location to appreciate the architectural scale of Blencathra’s eastern ridges.
• •Geologically, the fell is composed of Skiddaw Slate, which creates the smooth, rounded slopes and relatively firm turf that make it such a popular choice for walkers seeking a less boggy outing in the Northern Fells.
• •If you do happen to spot a phantom army marching through the mist, it is polite to let them pass; the narrow summit ridge offers very little room for a modern hiker to step aside for an entire 18th-century regiment.