Fellbarrow

Fellbarrow
Fellbarrow from the slopes of Low Fell
Highest point
Elevation	416 m (1,365 ft)
Prominence	c. 50 m
Parent peak	Low Fell
Listing	Wainwright
Coordinates	54°36′18″N 3°20′31″W / 54.605°N 3.342°W / 54.605; -3.342Coordinates: 54°36′18″N 3°20′31″W / 54.605°N 3.342°W / 54.605; -3.342
Geography
Fellbarrow Location in Lake District, UK
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, Western Fells
OS grid	NY132243
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4

Fellbarrow is a low hill in the north west of the English Lake District. It is not far from the town of Cockermouth, near to Loweswater and can most easily be climbed from Low Lorton, or Thackthwaite. From the summit there are views across the Lorton valley to Grasmoor and Whiteside.

The Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale to the south east. Westwards the hills diminish toward the coastal plain of Cumberland. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale, the western fells in effect being a great horseshoe around this long wild valley. Fellbarrow and Low Fell stand remote from the end of the northern arm.

Loweswater is unique amongst the major lakes of the District in emptying toward the centre of the National Park. Its waters flow out eastwards into Crummock Water before beginning their northward journey as the Cocker. Loweswater does not therefore represent any watershed between the fells on either side of its valley, as might be supposed from a quick glance at the map. A low ridge circuiting the western end of the lake joins Burnbank Fell to Low Fell and Fellbarrow, confirming them as the last outpost of the Western Fells.

The two fells form a ridge 2 miles long with the lower Fellbarrow at the northern end. Alfred Wainwright in his influential Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells was forced to estimate the elevation of Low Fell and considered (although with some doubts) Fellbarrow to be the high point of the ridge. There are a number of intervening tops, in particular Smithy Fell and Sourfoot Fell, which Wainwright decided were satellites of Low Fell, based on the position of the lowest col. That convention is followed here.