Holme Fell - Lake District Walks

We first spotted Holme Fell when we were walking around Tarn Hows and I can’t say it was a very enticing looking fell. Dark and knobbly best describe it, with no obvious ‘peak’, but rather a flat looking wide top. However, Wainwright describes it as “one of the most attractive of Lakeland’s fells” due to its cragginess, reservoirs and a quarry that “reveals the core of colourful slate lying beneath the glorious jungle of juniper and birch”. Who are we to argue with that? If ever there was a reason to go and explore a fell, this was a good one.

Know before you go

One of the lower fells at 1040 feet (316 metres), the top is not the obvious cairn on top of Ivy Crag, but a large grassy area with large flat slabs of rock. The walk up, although quite steep, was easy going and definitely a quick one. Once up, there is plenty to see and explore on the fell itself. I imagine lunch would be lovely on a day with less wind…our visit to the top was short and blustery.

A circular walk of Holme Fell

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A pleasant 6.9 miles and 723 feet of ascent.

We started and ended near Yew Tree Farm, taking a switchback path up past Yew Tree Tarn to the summit before returning via Hodge Close Quarries. We were very lucky to spot deer near the old reservoirs at the top…the first time we’ve seen deer in The Lake District and probably due to a seriously low number of people walking the fells.

Worthy diversions on Holme Fell

The view and cairn on Ivy Crag. Great photography opportunities and a super view of Coniston Water.
Hodge Close Quarries – As Wainwright says, they “have many features of interest” and it’s worth finding the path at the northern end of the two holes to walk through the quarry to an arch overlooking an emerald lake. (I think the sun needs to be shining for the “emerald” part of the equation..another time).
At the gated junction at the end of Hodge Close Quarry there are a couple of houses, behind one of which is a “solitary Scots pine that the author has long admired” writes Wainwright in his 1960 ‘A pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells” – I am pleased to say the tree is still there today.
A visit to Yew Tree Farm at the end of the walk – see below.

The Summit

Holme Fell is overlooked by Wetherlam, which on this day had speckled snow over its summit (to be climbed another day – this fell promises a lot of interest due to its mining past). Past Wetherlam there are lovely views going out to The Langdales and round to Loughrigg, Black Fell, Grizedale and Coniston. Even on a cloudy day (and windy I might add) it was stunning.

Yew Tree Farm

We couldn’t resist stopping at Yew Tree Farm at the end of our walk. It’s located at the bottom of Holme Fell and is the location of Beatrix Potter in the “Miss Potter” movie starring Renée Zellweger (a movie I happily recommend).

The reason we stopped? It also farms and sells local meat; namely Herdwick sheep and Belted Galloway cows, rather amusingly called “oreo” cows by some (Americans?) …they do look rather like the cookie. We bought a “Hogget of Herdwick” – a sheep between 1-2 years. It was seriously the most tender lamb we’ve ever had and such a great lamb flavour. We will be returning….watch out Oreos.