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522 m · Wainwright — Northern Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Souther Fell - a grassy path looking across to the broad green bulk of Blencathra under a clear deep-blue sky
Wainwright — Northern FellsAlso a Birkett

Souther Fell

Souther Fell at 522m (1,713ft) is an isolated, flat-topped ridge above Mungrisdale, famous in local tradition for the legendary ghostly army said to have been seen marching along its crest in the 18th century.

522 m
Height
~2.5–3 h
Typical time
+3
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX → Parking & buses →
522 mWainwright — Northern Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+3 bonus Birketts within 3 km Straightforward in cloud

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

Modelled guidance for the 522 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Fri 11 Sep): 12° to 9°C, gusts to 27 mph, 1.2 mm of rain forecast.

Fri 11 Sep
🌦️
12° / 9°
💨 27 mph
🌧 1.2 mm (90%)
Sat 12 Sep
🌧️
15° / 9°
💨 43 mph
🌧 24.1 mm (100%)
Sun 13 Sep
☁️
13° / 8°
💨 19 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (48%)
Mon 14 Sep
🌧️
15° / 8°
💨 28 mph
🌧 5.4 mm (84%)
Tue 15 Sep
🌦️
14° / 8°
💨 34 mph
🌧 3.3 mm (75%)
Wed 16 Sep
🌦️
12° / 9°
💨 30 mph
🌧 0.7 mm (57%)
Thu 17 Sep
🌦️
12° / 9°
💨 35 mph
🌧 3.6 mm (74%)

Forecast snapshot from 11 Sep 2026, 08:30 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 522 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Souther Fell at a glance

Souther Fell

Souther Fell - a grassy path looking across to the broad green bulk of Blencathra under a clear deep-blue sky
© Lee McCoy

Souther Fell at 522m (1,713ft) is an isolated, flat-topped ridge above Mungrisdale, famous in local tradition for the legendary ghostly army said to have been seen marching along its crest in the 18th century. Wainwright was amused by this legend and noted the fell's distinctive appearance from the Vale of Eden. The ascent from Mungrisdale is pleasant and the views across the vale to the Pennines are fine. A fell with great character from its history as much as from its summit views.

Routes up Souther Fell

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

Classifications & hill data

Wainwright
Northern
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
522 m
Height
1,713 ft
In feet
NY 3547 2914
Grid ref

The short answers

Is Souther Fell a Wainwright?

Souther Fell is a Wainwright. It is also on the Birkett list, the Synge list and the Fellranger list.

Where do you park for Souther Fell?

The nearest car park we hold is Souther Fell, north-east (layby), about 1.3 km from the summit in a straight line. The next is Souther Fell, north-east (layby 2), 1.3 km out. We only look within 2.5 km, measured straight-line: over longer distances a road may cross a pass and the drive bears no relation to the line.

My hikes over Souther Fell (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

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

Parking & buses for Souther Fell

Best parking to hike Souther Fell

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

Souther Fell, north-east (layby) — 1.3 km from summit (straight line)
Nearest fells: Souther Fell (1.3 km), Little Eycott Hill (1.9 km), The Tongue (1.9 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions (opens in new tab)Something changed here?
Souther Fell, north-east (layby 2) — 1.3 km from summit (straight line)
Walking base for The Tongue, Bowscale Fell, Eycott Hill and Little Eycott Hill — the 'The Tongue Birkett' route starts 113 m away. Also serves 'Eycott Hills'. Free (OSM-tagged). Grass surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions (opens in new tab)Something changed here?
Mungrisdale (verge, by the village hall) — 1.3 km from summit (straight line)
Roadside verge 240 m from the village hall car park — the same fells: Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags, Souther Fell, The Tongue.
Directions (opens in new tab)Something changed here?
If it is full: Mungrisdale village hall (donation) (0.2 km)
Souther Fell, north-east (layby 3) — 1.4 km from summit (straight line)
Walking base for Eycott Hill, Little Eycott Hill, Souther Fell and Scales Fell — the 'Eycott Hills' route starts 185 m away. Also serves 'Blencathra to Mungrisdale Common and over the back'. Paid parking (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).
Directions (opens in new tab)Something changed here?
Mungrisdale village hall (donation) — 1.4 km from summit (straight line)
For Bowscale Fell, Bannerdale Crags, Souther Fell and The Tongue. Honesty box at the village hall - OpenStreetMap recorded a suggested £2 a day in 2021, so bring change and read the box (2026-07-24 extract).
Directions (opens in new tab)Something changed here?
If it is full: Mosedale / Bowscale (verge) (2.7 km); Scales, A66 (layby) (4.4 km)

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 Souther Fell by bus

The 509 stops at Mungrisdale, adjacent to Road End. From there it is 3.2 km and 76 m of ascent to the start of Blencathra to Mungrisdale Common and over the back — a walk in before the walk. Last bus: Monday to Friday 22:11 towards Penrith (X5) and 17:07 towards Patterdale (509) and 14:42 towards Hartsop (509); Saturday 22:11 towards Penrith (X5) and 17:07 towards Patterdale (509) and 14:42 towards Hartsop (509); Sunday 18:38 towards Penrith (X5) and 17:07 towards Patterdale (509) and 14:42 towards Hartsop (509). Checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September 2026. Times here are a guide, not a promise — leave yourself more than the minute.

Stagecoach 509
Penrith ↔ Keswick around Ullswater — calls at Pooley Bridge, Watermillock, Glenridding, Patterdale, Hartsop, Dockray, Matterdale, Mungrisdale and Threlkeld
Catch it from: Penrith · Keswick
The Ullswater side of the Penrith–Keswick corridor, and a second option where we previously showed only the 508. Reaches Helvellyn and Catstye Cam from Glenridding, Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes from Patterdale, the Hartsop fells, and Gowbarrow from Dockray. Frequency and season are not listed here because we have not verified a timetable — check Stagecoach before you rely on it. Note the Troutbeck on this route is the one on the A66 near Penrith, not the Troutbeck near Windermere.

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

Hazards on Souther Fell

Hazard & Incident Information for Souther Fell

Hazard: Moderate

A low, whaleback fell almost encircled by the little River Glenderamackin near Mungrisdale — famous for the legend of a 'ghost army' seen marching its crest in 1745. It's modest in height but surprisingly steep in places: the approach drops by a narrow path to a footbridge and then climbs steepening ground that must be followed carefully to skirt a little crag. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.

  • Steep flanks & the little crag: For a low fell, Souther Fell is extremely steep in places; the path steepens progressively and must be followed carefully to negotiate a small crag. Don't shortcut the steep flanks, and take care with footing, especially when wet.
  • The Glenderamackin crossing: A narrow trail drops to a footbridge over the infant River Glenderamackin. The path is narrow and the riverbank steep — take care at the crossing, particularly in spate or when slippery.
  • Navigation on the broad ridge: The long, fairly featureless ridge can be misread in cloud. Keep a compass bearing and stay on the crest, away from the steeper flanks.
Who should attempt this fell: Souther Fell is a short, atmospheric walk, but don't be lulled by its height — it's steep in places and the path must be followed carefully past a small crag. Take care at the river crossing, navigate the broad ridge by compass in cloud, and watch the steep grass in the wet or in winter. (The ghost army, happily, is the one hazard you needn't plan for.)

Most common causes: Slips on the steep flanks and around the little crag · Care needed at the narrow Glenderamackin footbridge crossing · Navigation errors on the broad ridge in cloud · Slippery grass and rock when wet or frosty

Local Mountain Rescue: Keswick 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.

Report incorrect information (opens in new tab)

Navigating Souther 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 Souther 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: Souther Fell, north-east (layby), about 1.3 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Souther 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.

1.2 km NWThe Tongue553 m · Northern
2.4 km NWTarn Crags Top (Bowscale Fell East Top)665 m · Northern
2.6 km WSWScales Fell682 m · Northern

Routes over Souther Fell

17.59 km · ~961 m ascent · loop · ~5–7 h

⬇️ 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 Souther Fell

The 360° skyline from Souther 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
Computed 360-degree skyline from Souther Fell28 labelled tops shown (4 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 26 kmHelvellyn · 14 kmBowfell · 25 kmAtkinson Pike · 3 kmHigh Street · 20 kmKirk Fell · 25 kmLittle Dodd · 9 kmRed Screes · 21 kmStony Cove Pike · 20 kmHart Side · 9 kmLow Raise · 18 kmDoddick Fell · 3 kmClough Head · 7 kmBowscale Fell · 3 kmBannerdale Crags · 2 kmLoadpot Hill · 15 kmTarn Crags Top · 2 kmCross Fell · 34 km · clear daysGreat Mell Fell · 6 kmSighty Crag · 57 km · clear daysRoan Fell · 65 km · clear daysHeughscar Hill · 15 kmKnipescar Common · 20 kmPikethaw Hill · 69 km · clear daysLittle Eycott Hill · 3 kmMickle Fell · 45 km · clear daysBlackwood Hill · 69 km · clear daysCold Fell · 36 km · clear daysGreat Gable · 24 kmEsk Pike · 25 kmGreat Dodd · 9 kmCrinkle Crags South Top · 27 kmHigh Raise · 18 kmGreen Side · 10 kmThornthwaite Crag · 21 kmBirkett Fell · 9 kmWether Hill · 16 kmBlencathra · 3 kmSwineside Knott · 10 kmArthur's Pike · 14 kmEycott Hill · 3 kmLarriston Fells · 66 km · clear daysThe Cheviot · 107 km · a rare clear dayWisp Hill · 70 km · a rare clear dayCauldcleuch Head · 72 km · a rare clear dayPeel Fell · 76 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Souther Fell, by direction
  • South-east: High Raise (18 km), The Knott (18 km), Rampsgill Head (18 km), Low Raise (18 km), Kidsty Pike (19 km), High Street (20 km)
  • South: Great Dodd (9 km), Little Dodd (9 km), Hart Side (9 km), Green Side (10 km), Raise (12 km), Catstye Cam (13 km), Helvellyn (14 km), Caudale Moor (20 km), Stony Cove Pike (20 km), Thornthwaite Crag (21 km), Red Screes (21 km), Ill Bell (23 km)
  • South-west: Doddick Fell (3 km), Combe Head (21 km), Glaramara (22 km), Looking Steads (22 km), Great Gable (24 km), Kirk Fell East Top (24 km), Great End (24 km), Kirk Fell (25 km), Esk Pike (25 km), Bowfell (25 km), Broad Crag (26 km), Ill Crag (26 km), Lingmell (26 km), Scafell Pike (26 km), Shelter Crags (26 km), Crinkle Crags (26 km), Crinkle Crags (26 km), Crinkle Crags (26 km), Crinkle Crags (26 km), Crinkle Crags South Top (27 km), Scafell (27 km)
  • West: Atkinson Pike (3 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: The Cheviot (107 km, England), Wisp Hill (70 km, Scotland), Cauldcleuch Head (72 km, Scotland), Peel Fell (76 km, England), Greatmoor Hill (73 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 Souther Fell

Souther Fell sits close to the flat-horizon case. Even on its longest wait of the modelled year (on 1 April) first light is only 3 minutes after almanac sunrise, so the published sunrise time is a fair guide here.

30°40°50°60°04:35
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 lightAlmanac sunriseDifference
Midsummer04:35 BST ±5.0 min04:35
Equinox06:16 GMT ±5.0 min06:15+1 min
Midwinter08:34 GMT ±5.0 min08:33+1 min

The northern horizon stands at about 0.86° from here.

Last light — when the sun leaves Souther Fell

Souther Fell loses the sun early. Its earliest evening of the modelled year falls on 1 March, when last light is 42 minutes before almanac sunset — 17:07 against 17:49. The sun goes down to the west-south-west from here (249.9°), and the skyline on that bearing stands at 5.34°.

The evening of the same three days. A negative difference means a ridge takes the sun before the valley loses it.
Last lightAlmanac sunsetDifference
Midsummer21:17 BST ±5.0 min21:53-36 min
Equinox17:51 GMT ±5.0 min18:26-35 min
Midwinter15:31 GMT ±5.0 min15:48-17 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 Souther 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 Souther Fell

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
43Wainwrights in view+16 marginal
36 kmFurthest sightlineGreat Dun Fell
Sea in viewnone from here
Far horizons
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesE · 36 km distant
  • Cross Fell North PenninesE · 33 km clear
All 43 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

How Souther 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

Mosedale End Farm B&B (opens in new tab) guest house

about 2.3 km from the start, in a straight line

The nearest bed in the area we can actually evidence, at 2.31 km, and it answers more of our columns from its own pages than anything else here: an EV charge point, a room that sleeps two adults plus two children, a breakfast hamper delivered to the door, picnics, and its own private yard to park in. It also tells you the one thing most pages hide - that there is no bus - which matters on a Mungrisdale start where the alternative is a taxi.

Worth knowing: “Sorry we do not take DOGS or offer help the farmer or work experience days”

They run cameras on their own livestock and wildlife and lend guests a tablet to watch them from bed - a lambing camera in the lambing shed, a badger-sett camera and nest-box cameras.

  • Family rooms “THE GRAINERY SUITE A spacious en-suite bedroom with a king-size bed. Small kitchen area for basic food prep, with kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge, sink, and cupboard storage. Private balcony with outdoor seating.”
  • Packed lunch “Leave the car and walk all day for free. Picnics available.”
  • Parking “Mosedale End Farm is a traditional Lake District white farm house and is set back off the road, behind its own private yard where you may park your car.”

Scales Farm Country Guest House (opens in new tab) guest house

about 3.9 km from the start, in a straight line

It answers more of a wet walker's questions than anything else in this area, and answers them on its own pages: a boiler-room drying room, a private car park for eight, a ground-floor room for mobility-impaired guests, dog-friendly ground-floor rooms with their own exercise field opening straight onto Scales Fell, lockable storage for up to twelve bikes, free loan of poles, compasses and maps, and a bus stop directly opposite. It ranks second rather than first only because it is 1.57 km further out than Mosedale End and is silent on children in everything we hold.

The house is a 1650s farmhouse and barn, converted to a guest house in the early 1980s, and the owners were qualified hill-walking leaders for fifteen years before they bought it.

  • Drying room “We have a boiler room to provide heat and hot water which runs all year. This room is like a mini-sauna and is ideal for drying wet clothes and boots.”
  • Dogs “All three ground floor rooms are dog friendly with direct access to the garden and our own field.”
  • Parking “We have a large off road private car park that can easily accommodate 8 vehicles.”

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 Souther Fell

Is Souther Fell a hard walk?

No. It is a low whaleback almost encircled by the River Glenderamackin near Mungrisdale, the crest of it is easy walking, and the climb is short. It is best known for the legend of a ghost army seen marching along it in 1745, which is a better story than anything the terrain will give you.

We take it as part of a bigger Blencathra day, 17.6 km with 961 m of ascent. On its own from Mungrisdale it is an hour or two, and one of the better short evenings in the northern fells.

Questions drawn from real Google “People also ask” searches; answers written and fact-checked by us. · Reviewed 2026-08-30 · Suggest a question or correction (opens in new tab)

Other fells near Souther Fell