Middle Fell is one of Wainwright's western fells, a satellite of the larger Wainwright hill, Seatallen. It is most commonly climbed from Greendale on the shores of Wastwater, giving great views of the lake and the screes that drop sharply to the water from Whin Rigg and Illgill Head on the other side of Wasdale. Wainwright Walks to Middle Fell from Greendale either follow a direct route up the ridge to the summit, or a lengthier route via Greendale Tarn. The latter route gives excellent views of Seatallen with the tarn in the valley below.
A number of options exist for hikers wishing to take a Wainwright walk and complete a number of peaks from their Wainwright hill maps. From Greendale, a circular route taking in Seatallen and Buckbarrow is possible, while a longer route taking much of a days Wainwright walking takes a route from Greendale over Stockdale Moor to Caw Fell, returning to the starting point via the Wainwright fells Haycock and Seatallen, before including Middle Fell. This Wainwright walk, taking between 5 and 6 hours in good conditions, is a way of ticking off four peaks from a Wainwright Hill Chart in one day.
At the summit of Middle Fell, apart from the excellent Wastwater views, the Scafell group is well seen, as are the distant Coniston fells to the South East. The roughly similar sized Black Combe, one of Wainwright's outlying fells, can be seen near the Irish Sea coast to the South West. Perhaps the main reason for a Wainwright walk to Middle Fell is the spectacular view of Wastwater, which feels wild and remote, sometimes ominous but always spectacular.
More information on Middle Fell and the Wainwright Fells around Wasdale can been found in Book Seven, The Western Fells, by Alfred Wainwright, a volume of the Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells.
Middle Fell, pictured on the Wainwright walking route that passes Greendale Tarn. Photograph by Ammonyte
Plan and record your progress through the Wainwright Fells of the Lake District