Place Fell is a fabulous mountain hike with incredible views over Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, and the surrounding fells. This circular route is a great walk and often much quieter than others in the area. The hike up Place Fell offers stunning panoramic views, mixed terrain, wildlife and plenty of solitude. Check out all the route details and download the map below.
At a Glance
Difficulty: Moderate - A steady climb on well maintained, good paths. A mix of rocky, gravel and grass paths.
Distance: 12.9km/8 miles
Total Ascent:730m
Est Time: 4-5hrs not including rest stops
Starting location: Parking area in Patterdale (CA11 0NL)
Facilities: Pub and hotel in Patterdale, tea room at Side Farm with limited opening hours
Dog friendly: Yes - there are no stiles to cross but be aware of livestock
Place Fell and Ullswater Circular Hiking Route
Starting from Patterdale, a stony track near the school leads to Side Farm, where there may be a tea room open to stock up on some snacks. Turning left at the end of the track, the route heads gradually uphill, rising steadily to give you stunning views of the southern part of Ullswater.
The path continues to Boredale Hause, a broad saddle between Place Fell and Angletarn Pikes. This was historically an important crossroads for local shepherds and traders and is now the place where you’ll see several paths veer off in different directions into the fells. Here, you’ll see Place Fell, standing high to your left, with the obvious path zig zagging up the side.
The path here is a bit of a slog but the views over to the Helvellyn range, down to Brother’s Water and Kirkstone Pass and over Ullswater take your mind off it. Towards the summit there is one rocky section to scramble over before the final path leads to the trig point on the summit. It can get quite windy up here as the summit is open so be ready to wrap up wrm if you're taking a rest, maybe in the My Urban Trail fleece which will protect you really well from the wind.
The summit of Place Fell (657m) offers breathtaking 360° views, including deep into Martindale, across to Helvellyn, and over the full length of Ullswater. Place Fell gets its name from the old Norse plass, meaning “pasture” and despite its height, the summit area is surprisingly broad.
From the summit, follow the high path past the small tarn before High Dodd comes into view in front of you. It’s worth taking the short detour to the summit of High Dodd (501m), a distinctive grassy knoll that feels surprisingly remote. The view here over Ullswater is wonderful and this is a perfect place to stop for a quiet snack before continuing your hike.
Retrace your steps from High Dodd and begin descending the well marked path curving back down towards Ullswater. You’ll pass some old mine buildings and a few small waterfalls before reaching the path that heads around Ullswater.
This path forms part of the Ullswater Way, a popular 20-mile walking loop that encircles the entire lake. This stretch hugs the lakeshore through woods and past small beaches on a good path, although it is rocky and uneven in places. The combination of mountain and lake scenery is magical especially in the golden hours of late afternoon.
Follow the waymarked path back to Side Farm and onward to Patterdale once again where you can enjoy a well earned drink or bite to eat at the White Lion Inn or Patterdale Hotel.
Place Fell & Ullswater Circular - download the route
Download the Ordnance Survey route and map here.
You can also download the PDF version of the route and print it out.
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Starting point from the car park in Patterdale
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Side Farm and the tea room - turn right at the track and follow the path up the hillside
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Cross roads with paths joining at Boredale Hause - follow the path left up the path towards the summit of Place Fell
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The summit of Place Fell
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The short detour, pathless route to the summit of High Dodd for a great view over Ullswater
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The point at which the route meets the main path around the edge of Ullswater. Follow it left all the way back to Side Farm
Download Place Fell route on the Komoot App
Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.
Is there public transport to Patterdale?
Yes! The 508 public bus runs from Penrith Rail Station to Windermere, stopping in Patterdale.
Where is the parking in Patterdale?
There is a main parking area in Patterdale just off the main road. This will fill up quickly at the weekend so be sure to arrive early. At time of writing (June 2025), parking here is coins only and cost £5 for the day. This is private land and is the overflow for the hotel opposite.
How long is the Place Fell and Ullswater Circular route?
The whole circular route of Place Fell and Ullswater is just under 13km so expect this to take upwards of 4 hours.
How hard is Place Fell?
Place Fell is a moderate route with a steady incline over good paths. Almost all the elevation is at the beginning leading to the summit of Place Fell so once on the top, it’s all pretty much downhill, unless you detour to High Dodd. You still need a good level of fitness but this is a great route for beginner mountain hikers to try. The lakeside path along Ullswater is a gorgeous finish to the route.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.
Happy adventuring!
Izzy