Route: Hallin Fell
Area: Far Eastern Lake District
Date of walk: 28th December 2019
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.6 miles
Ascent: 1,100 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy, with sunny patches. Gale force winds on the top
This is a walk we’ve followed on several occasions and it never fails to please – there is beauty every step of the way
We parked as usual by St Peter’s Church on Martindale Hause, which gave us a good leg up today’s objective, Hallin Fell. The climb up the grassy slopes started immediately and it was very easy going – we were at the top within 20 minutes
The summit of this modest little fell has two points of interest – a wonderful view over Ullswater, and a massive 12 foot tall summit cairn out of all proportion to the height of the fell – a monument which can be seen for miles around. Having taken in the views we then descended to the shore of Ullswater down a steepish grassy path not shown on the OS map, which brought us to the wonderful shoreline path, part of the Ullswater Way, which runs to the head of the lake. The weather was rather dull and uninspiring on this section of the walk, which wasn’t seen at its best
After walking along the shore for 20 minutes or so we turned inland just before reaching Sandwick Bay, climbing up through woodland beside a dry stone wall. This joined the elevated path along Hallin bank, a heavenly section of the walk, with views over Ullswater and along the valleys of Boredale and Howe Grain
Near the end of Hallin Bank we turned left to join a path above Hause Farm which brought us back to the start of a short but very sweet walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Looking across to Hause Farm at the start of the walk from Martindale Hause
The climb starts immediately, and follows the grassy slopes of Hallin Fell at an easy gradient
Beda Fell, which separates the two valleys of Howe Grain and Boredale
Looking back down the path, with Loadpot Hill beyond Steel Knotts
We're soon at the summit of Hallin Fell, here looking along Boredale. Place Fell is on the right with its head in the clouds
Ullswater
We walk across the grassy summit plateau to the huge summit cairn
Dunmallard Hill at the foot of Ullswater
Looking towards the head of the lake
Start of the descent down the grassy slopes of Hallin Fell, with views of Ullswater all the way...
Howtown Wyke and Howtown on our right, backed by Bonscale Pike
We arrive at the shoreline path and turn left at the dry stone wall
We are now on the Ullswater Way
We follow the path around Geordie's Crag
Kailpot Crag
Sandwick Bay ahead, but before reaching it we turn away from the lake to climb up through Hallinhag Wood
Looking back along the woodland path
We emerge from the wood to this view of Ullswater
Lovely views along Boredale as we contour around the lower flanks of Hallin Fell...
The adjacent valley of Howe Grain
The end of the walk is ahead, with St Peter’s Church behind the trees
Looking back to Place Fell
St Peter’s Church, and the end of a great little fell walk
