Wainwrights: 6 Eastern Martindale Fells

February 25, 2024 LAKE DISTRICT WALKS

This walk explores the Eastern Martindale Fells near Ullswater and heads over Hallin Fell, Steel Knotts, Wether Hill, Loadpot Hill, Arthur’s Pike and Bonscale Pike from St Peter’s Church, Martindale, ticking off 6 Wainwrights along the way.

It’s been a while since we visited the Lake District but this half term we had a spare Friday and headed off to Martindale to get some more Wainwrights in the bag. As it’s a 2.5 hour drive from home I always like to make sure I tick as many off as I can (without making the walk unbearable for Hols) so this walk bags the 6 Wainwrights of Hallin Fell (388 m), Steel Knotts (432 m), Wether Hill (671 m), Loadpot Hill (672 m), Arthur’s Pike (533 m) and Bonscale Pike (524 m) in the Eastern Martindale Fells.

The walk starts from the free car parking area outside St Peter’s Church. We crossed the road and did Hallin Fell as an out and back. It’s a steep climb up to the top where you’re rewarded with a huge obelisk in the shape of a trig point and stunning views over Ullswater. We walked back down the hill to the church then headed off over Binkie Knott towards Steel Knotts.

From Steel Knotts we walked south-east towards Brownthwaite Crag before dropping down to the stream near an old ruined farm building.

We then climbed up the hillside to reach High Street, the old Roman Road, and find the summit of Wether Hill. There are two high points marked on the OS Map so we went to both, just to be sure we got to the summit!

From Wether Hill we set off past the shelter to Loadpot Hill and it’s trig point with built in moat, and then roughly north/north-east to Arthur’s Pike which has stunning views down over Ullswater.

We left Arthur’s Pike and set off south-west to descend to Swarth Beck and another ruined sheepfold, and then east to climb Bonscale Pike.

From Bonscale Pike it was a VERY steep descent down Swarth Fell, and all our knees were glad when we reached the valley bottom. We skirted around Steel End and followed the track that ran around the back of the Church (rather than the switchbacks up the road from Howtown) back to the car.