About Souther Fell

Souther Fell is a fell in the English Lake District and stands to the south of Mungrisdale village in the Northern Fells.

It is the eastern extremity of Blencathra, a continuation of the arm which runs down from the summit over Doddick Fell and Scales Fell. A smooth slope falls eastward from Scales Fell to the col of Mousthwaite Comb at 1,425 ft. The ridge then turns northeast for two miles along the summit of Souther Fell.

To the north of the depression, running eastward, is the River Glenderamackin and to the south of the col, flowing westward is the same river. In the intervening time the Glenderamackin has run for six miles, surrounding Souther Fell on three sides like a moat.

The Comb provides its only dry connection to other ground and even this is almost cut off by the tributary of Comb beck on the southern slope.

The far northern end of the ridge falls quite steeply to a bend of the Glenderamackin, across which is the village of Mungrisdale.

The eastern flanks are quite smooth and towards the south have been enclosed to provide pasture land. Southernfell, Far Southernfell and Hazelhurst are the farms here.

At the southern end, on the turn of the ridge, is the rockier slope of Knotts, falling toward the main Keswick to Penrith road.

The western side of the fell stands above the enclosed valley of the Upper Glenderamackin, looking across to Bannerdale Crags.

A footbridge crosses the river just north of Mousthwaite Comb, the only reliable crossing between here and Mungrisdale village.

Souther Fell has two main tops, although a number of other bumps crown the ridge. That to the north east is the true summit, the southern top being perhaps 30 ft lower. A small cairn marks the top.

This being the last of the Northern Fells in that direction, the view across to the Pennines is uninterrupted. The Lakeland view peeps around the looming presence of Blencathra, taking in Great Gable, the Scafells, the nearer Helvellyn range and a portion of the Far Eastern Fells.

From Scales on the A66 road an ascent can be made up Comb Gill to Mousthwaite Comb.

From Mungrisdale Wainwright suggests a direct route across the fields behind the Mill Inn.