Parking
Use the informal roadside lay-by spaces by St Margaret's Church, Wythop, around NY 190301. Spaces are limited. Park without blocking the lane, gates, or farm access.
Overview
About Sale Fell
Why go
- Big Bassenthwaite and Skiddaw views from a small fell
- Good first fell with a quieter feel than central classics
- Short loop with varied ridge and summit scenery
Heads up
- Informal limited roadside parking by the church
- Rough, wet-prone paths and a steeper-than-expected opening climb
The reward is a broad outlook over Bassenthwaite Lake with Skiddaw behind it, plus the open, pastoral sweep of the Wythop Valley on the other side. Worth knowing: the Lothwaite and Rivings section gives the better lake view, so linger there rather than saving all your time for the summit, which is open and a little plain by comparison.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake District map
Full mapElevation123–354 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Lake District alerts
- ClosureChapel Stile footpath closed for retaining-wall riskPart of Footpath 543030 between Chapel Stile and Baysbrown campsite is closed because a retaining wall beside the path could collapse and material it supports could fall across the footpath.Official details
- ClosureStanley Ghyll Lower Falls footpath closed for rockfallThe section of Footpath 408037 leading towards Stanley Ghyll Lower Falls is closed because severe rockfall damage has made the path unstable and further rockfall remains a danger.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake District Tour Guide
Your drive to Sale Fell, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake District National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Sale Fell: Pause Along the Ridge0:00 / 0:57
“You're nearing the start of the Sale Fell walk at Wythop, a quieter little hill with a rewarding ridge loop.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Dubwath Silver Meadows: Wetland Boardwalk
- Ling Fell: A Quiet Two-Hour Loop
- Wythop: The Old Church Inside the New
- Elva Plain: Stones Almost Underfoot
- 298 audio storiesacross Lake District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Red Deer, Eurasian Otter, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 265 trails, 89 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Sale Fell
The short versionThis is the compact Sale Fell loop from the roadside by St Margaret's Church at Wythop, and the…
This is the compact Sale Fell loop from the roadside by St Margaret's Church at Wythop, and the quoted distance is the full circuit back to the same spot: 1.99 miles (3,198 m) with roughly 193 m of climbing to a 359 m top. Most walkers take about 1.5 hours, with 1.25 to 2 hours covering the usual range. Rated 4 out of 10 for difficulty: short, but with a genuine pull uphill and rough ground in places.
How the route unfoldsFrom the church you start on the lower path along the woodland edge, then work up onto the…
From the church you start on the lower path along the woodland edge, then work up onto the ridge past Lothwaite and Rivings before the final rise to the Sale Fell summit. The descent swings back down to the lane and closes the loop at the church. The views change constantly as you turn along the ridge, which is part of the appeal on such a small hill.
Effort and footingGrass, gravel and rough fell paths, with bracken along the lower sections and patches of uneven…
Grass, gravel and rough fell paths, with bracken along the lower sections and patches of uneven or rocky ground higher up. Expect the following:
Boots or grippy shoes make a real difference. This is a common choice as a first fell and works well with children who are used to walking, but it is not a smooth stroll.
- The first climb feels steeper than the modest distance suggests.
- Ground can be wet, muddy or slippery after rain, especially lower down.
- The path is less distinct in a few places, so keep an eye on where the line is heading.
Crowds and alternativesThis corner of the Lake District stays noticeably quieter than the famous central summits,…
This corner of the Lake District stays noticeably quieter than the famous central summits, which is much of the reason to come. If you want a longer or gentler day, nearby Ling Fell is a meaningfully different outing with a smoother, more rounded feel, and the two are often paired by walkers wanting more time on the hill.
Access, parking and dogsThe start is the roadside access by St Margaret's Church, Wythop, around grid reference NY…
The start is the roadside access by St Margaret's Church, Wythop, around grid reference NY 190301. Parking is informal roadside and lay-by space only and it is limited, so arrive early or have a fallback plan, and take care not to block the lane, gates or farm access. Dogs are welcome on the public route. The national park asks owners to keep dogs under close control or on a short lead near livestock and to avoid disturbing wildlife, which matters here since the lower slopes and valley are grazed.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake District
81 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
13 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
76 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
51 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
233 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
176 sightingsGrey HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
