Broom Fell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broom Fell |
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Seen from Graystones, 2 km to the SE with Darling How Plantation in the foreground.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 511 m (1,677 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 25 m |
| Parent peak | Lord's Seat |
| Listing | Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Broom Fell
Location in Lake District
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, North Western Fells |
| OS grid | NY195271 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4 |
Broom Fell is a small hill located in the beautiful Lake District in England. It's part of a ridge that connects two other fells, Lord's Seat and Graystones. Not many people climb Broom Fell. However, a famous fell-walker named Alfred Wainwright thought it was important enough to be a separate fell. He wrote about it in his popular guidebooks, Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
Contents
Where is Broom Fell?
The North Western Fells are a group of hills in the Lake District. They are found between two rivers, the Derwent and the Cocker. These fells look like a long oval shape, stretching from north to south. Two main roads cut across this area. They divide the fells into three easy-to-explore sections. Broom Fell is in the most northern part. It rises between Whinlatter Pass and the Vale of Embleton.
The Ridge and Nearby Areas
Lord's Seat is the tallest fell north of Whinlatter. From Lord's Seat, a long ridge stretches out to the west. This ridge first dips into a marshy area. Then, it rises up to the top of Broom Fell. The ridge continues west to a lower, more open area called Widow Hause. Beyond Widow Hause, you'll find Graystones. The southern side of Widow Hause is covered in thick conifer trees. This area is known as the Darling How Plantation.
South of Broom Fell, you'll find the lovely valley of Aiken Beck. The lower parts of this valley are very wooded. This quiet valley sits between the main ridge and Whinlatter Fell. Its waters flow west and eventually reach the River Cocker. Hidden inside the Darling How Plantation is a beautiful waterfall called Spout Force.
On the northern side of Broom Fell is Burthwaite Heights. This is a smaller hill next to a very large bog called Wythop Moss. Wythop Moss itself is to the west. Its water drains slowly through Tom Rudd Beck. East of Burthwaite Heights is the valley of Wythop Beck. This beck drains more quickly between two hills, Ling Fell and Sale Fell.
What is Broom Fell Made Of?
The main type of rock found here is from the Skiddaw Group. This rock is called the Kirk Stile Formation. It's mostly made of thin layers of mudstone and siltstone. South of the summit, you can also see rocks called greywacke sandstone. These are a type of sandstone that often contains small rock fragments.
The Top of Broom Fell
The very top of Broom Fell is covered in grass. You'll find the end of a stone wall at the summit. This wall comes up from Aiken Beck to the southwest. It doesn't connect to any other walls, so its original purpose is a bit of a mystery. There is also a stone pile, called a cairn, about 2 meters tall. You can also find a small shelter built from parts of the old wall. This shelter helps block the wind.
What Can You See From the Summit?
From the top, you get great views! Looking south, you can see the ridge of Whiteside and Grisedale Pike. The Grasmoor fells appear behind them. To the west, across the Vale of Lorton, you can see the Loweswater Fells. If you look east and north, you'll spot taller fells on either side of Lord's Seat. You can also clearly see the flat coastal plain and the Solway Firth.
How to Climb Broom Fell
There are a couple of ways to reach Broom Fell.
Starting from Wythop Mill
One way is to start from Wythop Mill. You can cross Wythop Moss, which is a marshy area. There's an old path that helps you keep your feet dry. Once you've crossed the marsh, you can climb up the northern slope of Widow Hause. This will lead you to the main ridge.
Starting from Aiken Beck
Another option is to use the Aiken Beck valley. There's a car park near Scawgill Bridge on the Whinlatter Pass road. From the valley, you can climb directly up the southern slopes of Broom Fell. Or, you can take a longer route. This longer path goes via the summit of Lord's Seat first.
