GREAT MELL FELL
Explore one of the Lake District’s hidden gems
Thanks to the management of the fell, wildlife here is now benefitting from much less grazing pressure. It means it’s a wonderful walk at any time of the year, with a good variety of birds, including a much-sought western trio of songsters.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 This is not one of the massive fells of the Lake District, but offers a wide choice of birds and other wildlife. The bottom of the fell has a mixed broad-leafed woodland with some fine Oaks and even Hornbeam to allow you to look for those woodland gems of Pied Flycatcher, Redstart and Wood Warbler.
2 Gorse and Bracken is never too far away, so listen out for Linnets in summer and maybe even a Whinchat or Cuckoo. Your view starts to expand so stop and scan the surrounding fields and fell for a mixture of Rooks, Jackdaws, Buzzard and Stock Dove. Listen out for Tree Pipits in the isolated trees.
3 The reduced grazing by the owners, the National Trust, has allowed a lot more heather to grow here so look out for Meadow Pipits, Stonechat and Sky Lark. The wind can be fierce even at this height, so look at the amazing ‘bent’ hawthorn and even a stand of European Larch with their bent crowns. These have been used by Crossbills, Siskin and even Goldfinch feeding on their many seeds in their cones.
4 The top of the hill is a tumulus – a burial mound – and is thought to date from the Bronze Age (around 2400 to 1500 BC). Here you get great views of the Blencathra range and south to Ullswater and the Helvellyn range. Listen out for Ravens passing. Check for Wheatears and when I was up there, there was even a passage of Swallows. In autumn and winter look for the many Fieldfares and Redwings enjoying the berries of the Rowans.
5 You can follow the main path back down our detour through more woodland, listening out for tit flocks, Jays and even the woodpeckers with especially Green ‘yaffling’ and often taking off from the ground while looking for ants. Both Nuthatch and Treecreeper are here and plenty of warblers in summer.