Ling Fell

About Ling Fell

Rising as a heather-clad dome near Wythop Mill, this accessible Wainwright offers a gentle ascent with rewarding views. Its smooth, grassy slopes lead to a summit marked by a trig pillar, providing a clear perspective over the Vale of Embleton toward the northern reaches of Bassenthwaite Lake and the sprawling Solway Plain.

Key Statistics

Find It

Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Old Norse word 'lyng', meaning heather. In late summer, the fell’s rounded flanks turn a deep purple, making it one of the most colourful hills in the North Western Fells.
• •Alfred Wainwright regarded the circular track around the fell as one of the most pleasant easy walks in the Lake District, noting that the gentle gradient makes the extensive views over the Solway Firth feel 'stolen' for such little effort.
• •It is almost always climbed in tandem with its twin, Sale Fell. The two are separated by the quiet Wythop valley, and together they provide a perfect 'short day' for those looking to avoid the more congested central fells.
• •From the summit trig pillar, the view north is dominated by the massive bulk of the Skiddaw massif, while looking west provides a clear sightline to the rooftops of Cockermouth and the Irish Sea beyond.
• •Despite its modest height, the summit is equipped with a full-sized Ordnance Survey trig pillar, a somewhat formal summit feature for a hill that feels more like an elevated parkland than a mountain.