Sale Fell

Weather: Cool and cloudy with showers, some heavy. Windy on top of the fell
Start & Finish: 1/4 mile SE of Routenbeck NY192303
Terrain: Mainly grassy routes, some difficult to follow in places
Distance: 4.5 miles
Recommended map: OS Explorer OL4, The English Lakes North-western area

The path heads south and leads steeply from the road towards a gap in a dry stone wall. Beyond the wall, another path comes into view which contours the fellside. Heading east, the path climbs bringing ever-improving views over the northern end of Bassenthwaite Lake, with the dome of Binsey directly behind.

Eventually the path turns clockwise and the view becomes obscured by trees. Fording a stream, the path follows the wall bordering Wythop Woods, but as it continues to climb, a new vista opens up looking down Bassenthwaite towards Keswick in the distance, the mountains of the Skiddaw range forming an impressive backdrop.

Continuing round clockwise, the path turns westwards, still climbing, across open fell and meets up with another route heading north towards the summit. Following this path over a low wall and then through a gate, the 359m summit (NY195296) is soon reached.

From here, the best way down would be to retrace the route back to the gate, then follow the wall downhill to Kelswick (NY192292), where the circular path around the base of the fell can be followed in a clockwise direction back to the start. However, a more direct route back to the start (the one we took!) heads broadly north-west down the fell side, which is very steep in places. Eventually this joins the main path through ferns and it's just a short walk to the junction leading back to the start.