As you might have guessed from the name of this website, I love exploring parts of the UK that are far away from the madding crowds. Before venturing two hundred miles north during a teacher half term, I asked in various online forums which summits would be best for remote walking and possibly wild camping in The Lake District. There were many suggestions, but one appeared more than any others- Binsey Fell. That was it then. I’d start my adventure in the northern Lake District, where I’d enjoy walking Binsey Fell as well as tackling other summits too. I knew nothing about the fell though and had to complete some research to find out exactly where it was and what would be involved in tackling it.
What Is Its Attraction?
Binsey Fell’s height certainly isn’t its main drawing point. At 447 metres it doesn’t even qualify as a mountain in the UK. In fact it isn’t even close to being one. To achieve this status, the summit has to be above six hundred metres in elevation. Why then have I written this article telling you to visit the summit of a large hill, which is dwarfed by many more famous mountains very close by?
The answer is Binsey Fell’s location. Not only is it the most northerly of all the Wainwrights ( click here to find out more about what these are ), but it is also one of the most isolated. This is why all those people in the know were telling me to visit, but also why so many people don’t even know it exists.
No it may not be very high, but its detached location from the rest of The Lake District’s mountains means you can get excellent views of them. The great Alfred Wainwright, who knew and loved the are so much, spoke of these views when describing Binsey Fell. His sentiments were as followed:
‘It is a most excellent station for appraising the Northern Fells as a preliminary to their exploration…it is a viewpoint of outstanding merit.’
On a fairly clear day you can view the northern fells, look into the heart of the national park, see over the Solway Firth into Scotland and even sight The Isle of Man when visibility is particularly good. Click here to get some inspiration for various walks you can complete in the northern fells.
Routes Up
The isolated nature of this large hill means there are various options when it comes to climbing it. The most popular choice appears to be from the south. There is a clear track to follow, which runs all of the way to the summit. The map below shows this route clearly, but on the ground there are several other options too.
My Route When Walking Binsey Fell
Always looking for routes less travelled, I approached Binsey Fell from the north. A small lay-by was available, but there also a couple of cars parked directly by the gate at the foot of the climb too. There isn’t much parking space, but I can’t imagine this area ever gets particularly busy. The far more popular mountains of Blencathra and Skiddaw attract most of the visitors after all.
Route Statistics
Distance each way: 2.85 km
Altitude gain: 244.6 metres
Estimated time to climb to the summit: one hour
The Walking Experience
The journey starts on a well surfaced path. It does also pitch up quite steeply after a short while. Don’t think that trig point marks the summit of Binsey Fell. You’re still have a fair bit of climbing to do.
After the terrain levels out a bit, you bear right from the main path and start making your way across wide and open green fields. There may well be cattle grazing here like there was for me, but it is no issue. You and them have plenty of space to roam. Obviously if you have a dog joining you, then some precautions might still need to be taken here.
After gradually climbing for a few hundred metres, you will crest a smaller hill and be met with a seemingly endless stone wall blocking your path. I wondered whether I’d need to scramble over it from afar, but eventually noticed a gate towards the top of the slope.
Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, but I enjoyed the steeper finale en-route to Binsey’s summit. It always feels good to get the heart, lungs and leg muscles working properly. I walked this section at pace to reap the benefits of the workout, but you can of course travel at your own speed and take as long as you like.
Reaching The Summit
It doesn’t take too long to see the rocky top, which marks the summit. You will need to pick your way through the many rocks scattered around the trig point, but obviously it has to be done just so you get your hands on it. It is now time to just stand and enjoy the view you’ve worked fairly hard to achieve when walking Binsey Fell. The summit is exposed and so an extra layer or two might be needed, especially if you’ve sweated on the ascent.
As you might expect, there was hardly a soul around at the top. I did though have the pleasure of meeting an elderly gentleman out with his daughter. We got chatting and I soon learned he was a former racing cyclist just like myself. He spoke fondly about the local Cumbrian roads he raced in his youth and how he still got out whenever he could. All of that exercise clearly paid off, as he was in his eighties and still walking hills like Binsey. What an inspiration he was!
From the summit you can either retrace your steps like I did or take a slightly different route back. The one taken by this keen walker might be worth considering. I can’t guarantee however that you’ll be blessed with the conditions he appeared to enjoy. His photos are amazing though.
To Wrap Things Up…..
Despite its fairly diminutive size compared to the many surrounding fells and mountains, hopefully I’ve still stood strong in Binsey’s corner and shown why a visit is well worth it. There is something enjoyable about walking paths less trodden. You can of course also tick off another Wainwright if you have set yourself the challenge of scaling all of them.
I must also add how you can access this walk no matter what your fitness level is like. The larger mountains can seem intimidating for those new to it. Walking Binsey Fell is perfectly manageable for younger children and where better than to have a picnic than at the summit with those views.