Watendlath Fell [Long Moss]

About Watendlath Fell [Long Moss]

Overlooking the hidden valley of Watendlath, this Central Fell occupies a broad, peat-heavy plateau. Known locally as Long Moss, the terrain is famously damp, yet it serves as an essential link on the high ridge between High Seat and Bleaberry Fell, offering unobstructed views toward the Helvellyn mass.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Watendlath derives from Old Norse, likely meaning 'the barn at the end of the water,' referring to the nearby tarn and its surrounding farmstead, while 'Long Moss' is a literal description of the expansive, waterlogged peat bog that defines the summit area.
• •Though overlooked by Alfred Wainwright in his seven-volume series, the fell is recognised as a Birkett and a Synge, noted for its position on the high ground separating the Borrowdale and Thirlmere watersheds.
• •From the highest point of the moss, the view east is dominated by the long, craggy wall of the Helvellyn range, while looking west provides a bird's-eye perspective of the neat fields and white-walled buildings of Watendlath hamlet.
• •The fell is most commonly visited as part of a high ridge walk connecting Keswick to the central fells, providing a wild, often pathless experience compared to the more manicured trails found lower in the valley.
• •In a region famous for its bogs, naming a place 'Long Moss' is an act of refreshing honesty; walkers should expect the kind of ground that quickly identifies any secret leaks in their waterproof boots.