Ill Bell

It's a moderate fell, usually climbed as part of a longer ridge walk rather than on its own. Ill Bell (757 m / 2,484 ft) has a steep, shapely pull to its small, stony top, but no scrambling or exposure on the normal route along the Kentmere ridge.

The effort comes from the distance of the horseshoe rather than from any difficult ground on the fell itself.

Sources: Mud and Routes — Ill Bell (opens in new tab)

Ill Bell's summit is famous for its columnar cairns — several beautifully built, pillar-like stone towers, with three prominent ones on the small peaked top. They're unusually fine and tall for the grassy Far Eastern Fells, and make the summit instantly recognisable.

The official top is the middle cairn; the others stand close by on the stony summit. They're a genuine highlight, and one reason walkers single Ill Bell out on the Kentmere ridge.

Sources: Wikipedia — Ill Bell (opens in new tab)

Ill Bell is the centrepiece of the Kentmere Horseshoe, reached along the western ridge over Yoke from the Garburn Road (from Kentmere or Troutbeck). That ridge walk, taking in Yoke, Ill Bell and Froswick, is the classic and most rewarding way to climb it.

You can shorten it to an out-and-back over Yoke, but the full horseshoe is the reason most people come.

The full Kentmere Horseshoe is about 20 km (12.5 miles) with around 1,000 m of ascent, taking most people 6–8 hours. A shorter route taking in just Yoke and Ill Bell from Kentmere is a more manageable 4–5 hour day.

Ill Bell itself is fine for a fit beginner, but the usual way to reach it — the Kentmere Horseshoe — is a long, committing day over open ridges with a lot of ascent, which is a lot for a newcomer. There's no scrambling, but it's exposed to weather throughout.

If you're newer to the fells, do the shorter Yoke–Ill Bell version on a clear day, carry a map and compass, and save the full round for when you've more miles in your legs.

Sources: Kendal Mountain Search & Rescue Team (opens in new tab)

Most walkers start from the village of Kentmere, where there's very limited roadside parking near the church and institute (a small honesty car park) — it fills early, and the lanes are narrow, so go early and park considerately. Some start from Troutbeck instead, using the Garburn Road.

There's no large car park here, so an early arrival or car-sharing really helps.

Sources: UK Hillwalking — The Kentmere Horseshoe (opens in new tab)

Wear proper walking boots for the stony top and long grassy ridges, and carry warm and waterproof layers — the Kentmere ridge is open and exposed for hours with little shelter. Take a map and compass, plenty of water and food, and a charged phone, and check the mountain forecast.

It's a long day, so set off early, and treat the high ridge as serious ground in strong wind or winter conditions.

Sources: MWIS — Lake District forecast (opens in new tab)