Staveley Fell

Staveley Fell, seen from Gummers’ How in August. Bracken ahoy!

Summit: 870’ above sea level.

Date bagged: 10th April 2015 (walk 95).

Bagged as number: Staveley Fell has the distinction of becoming fell number 300 from the full list of 330 Wainwrights.  [ << Faulds Brow (299)  (301) Cartmel Fell >> ]

Route of ascent and descent: Came up from Staveley-in-Cartmel, as described in Wainwright’s volume 8 (page 51), and you need to follow this advice carefully. Descended back to the forest road and then went on to Cartmel Fell, which is nearby.

Looking back the other way — View from Staveley Fell summit, with Gummer’s How above the foot of Windermere.

What Mr Wainwright says (from page 49 of volume 8): “Strictly it has no name, not even locally, being referred to on Ordnance maps as Astley’s and Chapel House Plantations, which are new forests severely encroaching on it…. The top has not yet become a write-off for peak-baggers, however. Which is as well, for it commands a fine aerial view of the foot of Windermere. The summit ridge is pleasantly attractive and it appears so in the eyes of visitors down in the valley.”

Felled plantation — view from the summit of Staveley Fell

What I say: Staveley Fell is probably the messiest fell in the whole 330 (see the picture). Despite its modest height, attaining it currently involves hauling oneself over the litter of felled plantations, both on ascent and descent. I tried bagging this back on walk 86, into which it would have logically fitted, but without following the advice in the book exactly it was impossible to find the way to the summit. The summit ridge is attractive once up there, and the view pretty good, but in the end this can only be recommended as a climb if you are on a Wainwright-bagging expedition. How much more pleasant it might be if not defaced by industrial forestry, mind you.

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