Hazard: Moderate
A fell on the High Street massif above Mardale Head, ringed on its eastern side by the crag-bound craters of Blea Water and Small Water and dropping to the steep, rocky Nan Bield Pass. The broad summit links into the featureless High Street plateau, so navigation matters, and the connecting ridges and pass are rocky and exposed. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team covers this Haweswater ground.
- Crags above Blea Water & Small Water: The eastern side falls to the Mardale Waters — Blea Water and Small Water sit in crater coves ringed by crags. Keep back from the edges above them, especially in cloud or wind where the broad ground gives little warning before the drop.
- Nan Bield Pass (steep rocky ridge): The narrowing ridge down to Nan Bield Pass and up toward Harter Fell is steep and rocky with awkward steps; the path is rough underfoot. Take care with footing, and note the stone shelter at the pass is only a last-resort refuge. Exposed in wind.
- Broad summit & High Street plateau navigation: The top merges into the wide, featureless High Street plateau, a classic place to lose your bearings in mist. Take a compass bearing before moving between Mardale Ill Bell, High Street, Nan Bield and the Mardale descent.
Who should attempt this fell: Mardale Ill Bell is straightforward in clear weather but sits among serious ground — keep well back from the crags above the Mardale Waters, take the rocky Nan Bield ridge carefully, and navigate by compass where it meets the featureless High Street plateau. It is a fair way in from Mardale Head, so allow time, and treat the pass and edges as full winter terrain when there is snow or ice.
Most common causes: Walkers straying toward the crags above Blea Water / Small Water in poor visibility · Slips on the steep, rocky Nan Bield Pass ridge and steps · Navigation errors on the broad summit and adjoining High Street plateau in cloud · Exposure on the pass and plateau in strong wind or winter
Local Mountain Rescue: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab) · Reviewed 14 Jun 2026
Safety: Hazard guidance compiled from published Mountain Rescue reports and well-documented accident history - editorial background, not a live feed of callouts. Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
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