Shit Fell Walking – Gummer’s How

At only 321m (1,053ft) high, it’s tiny by Lake District standards, but because it sits right above the southern end of Windermere, the views are enormous. You get a near-perfect perspective looking up the full length of the lake, with the Coniston Fells, Langdales and central Lakeland mountains spread out beyond. Many walkers consider it one of the best view-to-effort ratios in the National Park.

Alfred Wainwright loved it and famously described it as an “old man’s mountain” because it remains rewarding even when you’re no longer tackling the bigger fells.

Start: Forestry England car park above Fell Foot (free)
Distance: About 4.5 to 5 miles as a circular
Ascent: Around 800-1,000ft depending on variation

Instead of the very short out-and-back that most tourists do, continue beyond the summit and loop through the woods and tracks around Birch Fell and the reservoir before returning to the car park. This gives you a much more satisfying walk while staying comfortably within our 5-mile target.

What you’ll see:
Windermere laid out beneath you
The Coniston range
Fairfield and the Far Eastern Fells
Morecambe Bay on a clear day
Woodland, heather and rocky outcrops
A classic summit trig point for the obligatory photo 

This would make a brilliant beginner-friendly social hike. The climb is steady rather than brutal, the summit arrives quickly enough to keep morale high, and the views create plenty of “worth it” moments. You could easily finish with coffee or a pint at nearby Fell Foot or head into Newby Bridge afterwards.