Lake District
Yewbarrow
628M
2062FT
About Yewbarrow
Yewbarrow is a distinctive, boat-shaped fell guarding the head of Wasdale. It’s a steep, rocky undertaking despite its modest height, with the direct ascent from Wasdale Head involving some hands-on scrambling. Once on the ridge, the views across Wast Water and Great Gable are exceptional.
Key Statistics
Rank
234th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
143.9
Nearest Town
Wasdale
Geology
You’re walking on layers of volcanic ash and ash‑filled rocks formed from explosive eruptions. These include ash layers like Lingmell and Wet Side Edge, plus andesitic lava from Birker Fell.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.4649°N
Longitude
3.2769°W
Did You Know?
- •The name originates from the Old English 'iw' and 'beorg', meaning 'the hill where yew trees grow', though very few of these trees remain on its slopes today.
- •Its profile is famously compared to the hull of an upturned boat or a burial mound, a shape formed by glacial action which left the fell with nearly vertical sides and a narrow summit ridge.
- •The fell features two distinct tops; while the 628-metre southern summit is the highest, the northern Stirrup Crag is classified as a separate peak in the Hewitt and Nuttall hill-bagging lists.
- •The classic ascent via the southern nose involves 'Bell's Rib', a Grade 1 scramble that provides a more direct—if slightly more vertical—alternative to the loose, eroded scree paths.
- •The steepness of the descent towards Dore Head is notorious among hikers for being a relentless, knee-crunching scree-run that often leaves you wondering if you've accidentally joined a geological landslide.