Mardale Ill Bell

Mardale Ill Bell rises to 760 meters and forms an isolated summit point between the Kentmere valley and the Mardale area. The peak itself has two large stone cairns and presents a raw mountain form with steep slopes descending toward Kentmere Reservoir.

The old Nan Bield Pass near the summit served for centuries as a trade route between Kentmere and Mardale Green. This route lost its importance after the flooding of Haweswater in the 1940s, which transformed the valley.

The summit belongs to the Far Eastern Fells region and carries a name documented in Alfred Wainwright's famous walking guides for Lake District mountains. Visitors recognize this place as a notable point in the region's established walking tradition.

Hikers can climb from either Kentmere valley or from Mardale side, with the Kentmere Horseshoe path being the more direct and well-established route. It helps to wear sturdy hiking boots and carry a map, as the summit is exposed and weather can change quickly.

The northeastern face of the summit drops sharply into Blea Water, one of the deepest mountain tarns in the Lake District. This body of water reaches a depth of 63 meters, creating drama between peak and water that hikers often find striking.