Armboth Fell

Armboth Fell is a dome-shaped hill in the Lake District’s eastern fringe, just east of the divide between Derwentwater and Thirlmere. It lies in the Cumberland district, where the ground stays wet and much of the open ground is covered in heather. The eastern slopes above Thirlmere carry a plantation of conifers, and the fell’s edges are marked by two streams, Fisher Gill and Launchy Gill, which flow down to the reservoir. Alfred Wainwright called Armboth Fell the centre of Lakeland, and the fell still carries his name on many maps. The summit is a small rock outcrop topped by a cairn, with another knoll nearby at the same height. From the top there are wide views east to the Helvellyn range and west across the main ridge to peaks from Grisedale Pike to Bowfell. Fisher Crag, a striking rock face on the eastern flank, gives a clear outlook over Thirlmere and the surrounding fells. A walk up from the public car park at Armboth follows Fisher Gill through the trees and behind Fisher Crag, where the path ends. Launchy Gill carries a nature trail popular with children through the lower woodland, and the remains of the old village of Armboth can be seen in the forest alongside the reservoir. The fell’s wet heath and woodland form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, where birch, hazel and restored peatlands support a range of upland wildlife.