Watermillock Fell [Little Mell Fell South Top]

About Watermillock Fell [Little Mell Fell South Top]

Rising above the village of Watermillock, this grassy shoulder is technically the southern top of Little Mell Fell. The terrain is soft and rounded, composed of unusual Devonian conglomerate. From the summit, you gain a classic perspective over the middle reach of Ullswater towards the sprawling Hallin Fell.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Mell' likely stems from the Old Norse 'melr', referring to a bare or sandy hill, while 'Watermillock' points to the presence of ancient mills on the nearby becks.
• •Bill Birkett included this south top as a separate entry in his guides to the Lakeland fells, distinguishing it from the higher summit of Little Mell Fell located just a few hundred metres to the north.
• •Geologically, this fell is part of a rare island of Devonian conglomerate; look closely at the summit outcrops to see the distinct puddingstone appearance of rounded river pebbles fused into a solid mass.
• •From this height, the view south-east is dominated by the long, high ridge of the High Street range, while the dramatic, notched profile of Catstycam and Helvellyn can be seen peeking over the Glencoyne skyline.
• •Attempting to bag this as a distinct peak often feels like a bureaucratic exercise in hill-listing, as you essentially just walk along a gentle, grassy plateau from the main summit.