Wainwright — North Western FellsAlso a Birkett

Ling Fell

Ling Fell at 374m (1,227ft) is a small, heathery summit above Wythop Mill near Bassenthwaite Lake, its modest top giving pleasant views across the lake and north to the Solway.

374 m

Height

~1.5–2 h

Typical time

Bonus Birketts

See routes & download GPX → Parking & buses →

Home › Fells › Ling Fell

Written and walked by Lee McCoy

374 mWainwright — North Western Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+5 bonus Birketts within 3 km Straightforward in cloud

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Modelled guidance for the 374 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Fri 11 Sep): 13° to 11°C, gusts to 25 mph, 3.3 mm of rain forecast.

Fri 11 Sep

🌧️

13° / 11°

💨 25 mph

🌧 3.3 mm (84%)

Sat 12 Sep

🌧️

16° / 11°

💨 47 mph

🌧 22.5 mm (100%)

Sun 13 Sep

☁️

14° / 8°

💨 14 mph

🌧 0.0 mm (44%)

Mon 14 Sep

🌧️

16° / 8°

💨 32 mph

🌧 9.5 mm (88%)

Tue 15 Sep

🌦️

14° / 9°

💨 32 mph

🌧 7.9 mm (72%)

Wed 16 Sep

🌦️

12° / 10°

💨 33 mph

🌧 2.6 mm (63%)

Thu 17 Sep

🌦️

11° / 10°

💨 37 mph

🌧 6.2 mm (82%)

Forecast snapshot from 11 Sep 2026, 08:30 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 374 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

Ling Fell at a glance

Ling Fell

Ling Fell at 374m (1,227ft) is a small, heathery summit above Wythop Mill near Bassenthwaite Lake, its modest top giving pleasant views across the lake and north to the Solway. Wainwright included it as one of the easier North Western Fells, suitable for a short outing. The ascent from Wythop Mill or Sale Fell is very short. Often combined with Sale Fell as a gentle half-day circuit above Bassenthwaite.

Routes up Ling Fell

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Ling Fell & Sale Fell

5 km · ~1.7 hr

Two small grassy tops near Wythop — 5 km and 417 m, and the only route in this group rated easy on every axis but steepness. A stage averages 16%. Well under two hours.

Classifications & hill data

Wainwright

North Western

Birkett

Fellranger

Synge

374 m

Height

1,227 ft

In feet

NY 1799 2853

Grid ref

My hikes over Ling Fell (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Ling Fell & Sale Fell: Won't be rushing to do these again (opens in new tab) — 4.9 km · 408 m ascent · 1h 23m moving · 27 Jul 2024

Interactive route maps and photos load here for visitors with JavaScript. Data from Strava.

Parking & buses for Ling Fell

Best parking to hike Ling Fell

Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).

Roadside parking for Ling Fell (free) — 0.6 km from summit (straight line)

Approx 5 spaces. 0.6 km from Ling Fell. Added from the 5 Aug 2026 OSM candidate review.

Directions Something changed here?

Ling Fell (layby) — 0.9 km from summit (straight line)

Nearest fells: Ling Fell (0.9 km), Burthwaite Heights (1.6 km), Sale Fell (1.8 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

Ling Fell, north-east (layby) — 0.9 km from summit (straight line)

Walking base for Ling Fell, Sale Fell, Rivings and Lothwaite — the 'Ling Fell & Sale Fell' route starts 80 m away. Also serves 'Rivings and Lothwaite'. Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

Burthwaite Heights (layby) — 1.0 km from summit (straight line)

Nearest fells: Burthwaite Heights (0.5 km), Ling Fell (1.0 km), Sale Fell (1.0 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

Ling Fell, north-west (layby) — 1.9 km from summit (straight line)

Nearest fells: Ling Fell (1.9 km). Free (OSM-tagged).

Directions Something changed here?

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Tip: pan and zoom the interactive map at the top of this page to spot other potential parking near your route.

Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.

Getting to Ling Fell by bus

The X4 stops at Embleton Close Barn (near). From there it is 2.7 km and 151 m of ascent to the start of Ling Fell & Sale Fell — a walk in before the walk. Last bus: Monday to Friday 21:35 towards Keswick (X5); Saturday 23:50 towards Keswick (X5); Sunday 17:55 towards Keswick (X5). Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

Stagecoach X4 / X5

Penrith – Rheged – Threlkeld – Keswick – Braithwaite – Cockermouth – Workington

Catch it from: Penrith

Year-round, every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday between Penrith and Keswick and hourly on Sundays, from outside Penrith station. One ticket from any station on the West Coast Main Line to Keswick includes this bus: search for ‘Keswick Bus (KWK)’ when you book the train. From Penrith this is your way into Keswick and the Northern fells — Threlkeld/Scales stops serve Blencathra directly, Braithwaite serves the Coledale fells.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

Hazards on Ling Fell

No hazard card for this fell. The usual open-fell rules apply: check the forecast, carry a map and compass, and turn back in cloud if the ground is not what you expected.

Navigating Ling Fell in cloud

Straightforward

A broad, gently-sloping top with little to steer by — easy to lose your bearings and hard to relocate in mist. Navigation here is relatively straightforward even in cloud — but carry map and compass and know how to use them; a low score never means “safe”.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Ling Fell compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.

Map & nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.

Nearest parking: Roadside parking for Ling Fell (free), about 0.6 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Ling Fell (within 3 km)

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

0.9 km ESEBurthwaite Heights318 m · North Western

2.0 km ENERivings335 m · North Western

2.1 km SSWKirk Fell (Lorton)437 m · North Western

2.1 km SGraystones455 m · North Western

2.6 km ENELothwaite345 m · North Western

Routes over Ling Fell

Ling Fell & Sale FellLive

4.98 km · ~417 m ascent · loop · ~1.5–2.5 h

Summits: Ling FellSale Fell

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass. How to use this guide.

The view from Ling Fell

The 360° skyline from Ling Fell

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys

What you can see from Ling Fell, by direction

North-east: Lowthwaite Fell (12 km), Frozen Fell (12 km), Longlands Fell (12 km), Little Sca Fell (12 km), Great Sca Fell (12 km), Brae Fell (13 km)
East: Dodd (7 km), Long Side (7 km), Carl Side (8 km), Skiddaw South Top (8 km), Skiddaw (8 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (8 km), Skiddaw North Top (8 km), Broad End (8 km), Skiddaw Little Man (9 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (9 km), Knott (12 km), Clough Head (16 km), Gowbarrow Fell (24 km), Bonscale Pike (29 km), Arthur's Pike (29 km)
South: Ladyside Pike (6 km), Grisedale Pike (6 km), Gasgale Crags (6 km), Hopegill Head (6 km), Whiteside East Top (6 km), Hobcarton Crag (7 km), Sand Hill (7 km), Whiteside (7 km), Eel Crag (8 km), Grasmoor (8 km), Crag Hill (8 km)
South-west: Loweswater End (10 km), Carling Knott (10 km), Burnbank Fell (10 km), Blake Fell (11 km), Sharp Knott (11 km), Gavel Fell (11 km), Gavel Fell (12 km)
North-west: Criffel (40 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Slieve Donard (180 km, Ireland), Merrick (94 km, Scotland), Snaefell (88 km, Isle of Man), Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (91 km, Scotland), Cairnsmore of Fleet (78 km, Scotland), Corserine (90 km, Scotland), Lamachan Hill (89 km, Scotland), Green Lowther (88 km, Scotland).

Computed from terrain in perfect clarity, not photographed · distances are straight-line.

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills (opens in new tab) (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

Sunrise and sunset on Ling Fell

Ling Fell waits for the sun. Its longest wait of the modelled year falls on 1 December, when the sun is up for 33 minutes before it clears this skyline — first light 08:46 against an almanac sunrise of 08:13. You are standing in shadow while the valley below is already lit. The sun comes up to the south-east from here (135.4°), and the skyline on that bearing stands at 3.17°.

Midsummer. The filled shape is the skyline as seen from the summit; the line is the sun’s path. Where they meet is first light — everything left of that point is the wait.

Times for 2026, in Lakeland clock time (GMT in winter, BST in summer) — and model outputs rather than observations.
	First light	Almanac sunrise	Difference
Midsummer	04:34 BST ±5.0 min	04:37	-3 min
Equinox	06:39 GMT ±5.0 min	06:16	+23 min
Midwinter	09:05 GMT ±5.0 min	08:34	+31 min

A low, open northern horizon — the ground falls away northwards (mean -0.15°).

Last light — when the sun leaves Ling Fell

The evening here runs close to the flat-horizon case. Even on its earliest evening of the modelled year (at midwinter) last light is only 3 minutes before almanac sunset, so the published sunset time is a fair guide on Ling Fell.

The evening of the same three days. A negative difference means a ridge takes the sun before the valley loses it.
	Last light	Almanac sunset	Difference
Midsummer	21:58 BST ±5.0 min	21:54	+4 min
Equinox	18:31 GMT ±5.0 min	18:27	+4 min
Midwinter	15:46 GMT ±5.0 min	15:49	-3 min

Computed, not photographed. First light is the first minute the sun’s upper limb clears this summit’s own skyline and last light the last minute it is still clear of it, both solved against the 360° horizon profile behind The View from Ling Fell. Almanac sunrise and sunset are the flat-horizon convention. Every time carries a ± band from the 30 m elevation model — it smooths arêtes and cornices, so nothing here claims better than five minutes. These are daylight figures, not a descent plan: the light goes on fading for a good while after the sun leaves, and going down in it is a decision about your own ground and party, not about this table.

What you can see from Ling Fell

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.

28Wainwrights in view+3 marginal

95 kmFurthest sightlineMerrick

2Sea in viewIrish Sea, Solway Firth

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Far horizons

Merrick ScotlandNW · 95 km clear
Snaefell Isle of ManWSW · 88 km clear
Criffel ScotlandNW · 41 km distant
Solway Firth bay/estuaryNW · 30 km in view
Irish Sea open waterW · 25 km in view

All 28 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Sale Fell, Graystones (Graystones North Top), Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter), Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Ullock Pike, Dodd (Skiddaw), Whiteside (Whiteside West Top), Long Side, Low Fell, Carl Side, Skiddaw, Grasmoor, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Binsey, Skiddaw Little Man, Burnbank Fell, Great Cockup, Blake Fell, Meal Fell, Longlands Fell, Gavel Fell, Knott, Great Sca Fell, Brae Fell, Gowbarrow Fell (Wainwright summit), Bonscale Pike, Arthur's Pike

How Ling Fell’s view compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

Sightlines from a bare-earth terrain model (forests and buildings not included), corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

Places to stay near this fell

Embleton Spa Hotel (opens in new tab) hotel

about 1.6 km from the start, in a straight line

The nearest property to the start by a clear margin, and the only one in the ring that answers a walking family's whole evening in one place: a family ensuite bedroom plus four self-contained family apartments, breakfast included in the room rate, and its own bar and evening menu so nobody gets back in the car. It is also the one property here that a car-free party can reach.

An 18th-century Lakeland farmhouse that now runs a pool and gym its guests use free, and it sits on the Penrith-Keswick-Workington bus route with the stop 50 yards from the door.

Family rooms “We offer four Ensuite Double Bedrooms and one Family Ensuite Bedroom, located on the first and second floors of the hotel.”
Evening meal “Bar/restaurant with breakfast, drop-in lunch menu and evening menu.”

Bassenfell Manor Christian Centre (opens in new tab) hostel

about 4.7 km from the start, in a straight line

It holds the only drying room within three miles of this start, and the only ground-floor bedroom with an en-suite described as suitable for restricted mobility. For a party that comes off Sale Fell soaked, or one carrying a bad knee, nothing else in the ring answers either question at all. Ranked sixth rather than higher only because its calendar is dominated by group hire and named holiday weeks, so a passing family's availability is not established.

A charity-run manor whose dining room seats 75 under a panorama of Bassenthwaite Lake, and which runs its own September walking week with a slower 'Strollers' option alongside the high ridges.

Drying room “Drying Room and Laundry Space to dry wet coats and shoes.”
Family rooms “68 Bed spaces in 19 Bedrooms on 3 floors. Rooms range from twin/double up to 6 people each with en-suite or a private bathroom.”
Evening meal “Friendly relaxed atmosphere, comfy accommodation, great food, and quality leadership are the hallmarks of our holiday weeks.”
Parking “Parking Car park space for up to 21 cars.”

What each place says about itself, quoted from their own site. We have not stayed at any of them, and there are no prices, no booking and no affiliate links. Distances are straight lines from each route start, never walking times. Properties found via OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab).

Frequently asked questions about Ling Fell

How hard is Ling Fell, and how long does it take?

It is one of the easiest Wainwrights. Ling Fell is a rounded, heathery dome of 374 m (1,227 ft) above the Wythop valley, and a typical round takes about an hour and a half — less if you go straight up and straight back down.

There is no scrambling and nothing exposed: the ground rises steadily on grass and heather from whichever side you start. The one honest caveat is underfoot — we rate it 0.55 for bogginess on a 0–1 scale, so the lower slopes and the saddle can be soft after wet weather. Boots rather than trainers if it has been raining.

Is Ling Fell a Wainwright?

Yes — one of the smallest, in the North Western Fells above Bassenthwaite Lake. It is also a Birkett, a Fellranger and a Synge, so a single short walk ticks four lists at once.

Its natural partner is Sale Fell, the matching dome on the other side of the Wythop valley — most people bag the two together.

Can you do Ling Fell and Sale Fell together?

Yes, and it is the usual way to walk them. The two sit either side of the Wythop valley and share the same approach lanes, so an afternoon covers both comfortably — roughly three hours for the pair at an unhurried pace, allowing for the drop back into the valley between them.

If you only have time for one, Sale Fell is the slightly shorter climb with the better view down Bassenthwaite; Ling Fell is the quieter top.

Where do you park for Ling Fell?

The usual start is the lane by Wythop church (St Margaret's), on the south side of the valley, which also serves Sale Fell. There is no car park — parking is informal roadside space and there is very little of it.

Park considerately, keep gateways and passing places clear, and if the verge is full, come back another day rather than squeezing in. These are working farm lanes.

Is Ling Fell a good fell for a poor-weather day?

It is one of the better choices when the high tops are in cloud. At 374 m it usually stays below the murk, the climb is short, and the view over Bassenthwaite and north towards the Solway is often clear when Skiddaw is not.

Lower-risk is not risk-free. It is a rounded, featureless top, so in genuinely thick cloud it is easier to walk off the wrong side than the modest height suggests — carry a map and compass and know how to use them. Check the live conditions before you set off.

Questions drawn from real Google “People also ask” searches; answers written and fact-checked by us. · Reviewed 2026-07-27 · Suggest a question or correction (opens in new tab)

Ling Fell

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Ling Fell at a glance

Ling Fell

Routes up Ling Fell

Classifications & hill data

My hikes over Ling Fell (Strava)

Parking & buses for Ling Fell

Best parking to hike Ling Fell

Getting to Ling Fell by bus

Hazards on Ling Fell

Navigating Ling Fell in cloud

Map & nearby Birketts

Birketts near Ling Fell (within 3 km)

Routes over Ling Fell

The view from Ling Fell

The 360° skyline from Ling Fell

Sunrise and sunset on Ling Fell

Last light — when the sun leaves Ling Fell

What you can see from Ling Fell

Places to stay near this fell

Embleton Spa Hotel (opens in new tab) hotel

Bassenfell Manor Christian Centre (opens in new tab) hostel

Frequently asked questions about Ling Fell

Other fells near Ling Fell