Souther Fell South Top

About Souther Fell South Top

Rising gently above Mungrisdale, this smooth, grass-covered ridge offers an accessible alternative to its rugged neighbour, Blencathra. The South Top marks the true summit of the undulating crest, providing a quiet vantage point to observe the shifting light on the dark, craggy eastern face of Scales Fell and the Glenderamackin valley.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely originates from the Old Norse 'sauthr', meaning sheep, and 'fell', meaning mountain. It translates quite literally as 'Sheep Hill,' a nod to the centuries of grazing that have shaped its smooth, grassy profile.
• •This ridge is the site of one of the Lake District’s most enduring legends: the 'spectral army' of 1745. On Midsummer’s Day, dozens of witnesses in the valley below reported seeing a ghostly cavalry and infantry marching along the summit crest, even though no such military force existed in the area at the time.
• •While often overlooked in favour of the bigger peaks, this summit is classified as a Synge. This list, compiled by Tim Synge, identifies every distinct point on a 1:25,000 map with a closed contour, ensuring that even minor tops on a long ridge receive their due recognition.
• •The ascent from the north-east provides an exceptionally clear view of the 'H-shaped' path on the side of Bannerdale Crags, a distinctive landmark across the valley that stands out sharply against the dark heather.
• •Should you encounter a ghostly Jacobite army while traversing the ridge, local tradition suggests you should simply keep walking; they haven’t been seen since the mid-18th century, having presumably finally found the way down to the Mill Inn at Mungrisdale.