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Name: | Ponsonby Fell |
Hill number: | 2509 |
Height: | 315m / 1033ft |
Parent (Ma): | 2368 Pillar |
RHB Section: | 34B: Lake District - Central & Western Fells |
Nuttall/Wainwright area: | Lake District - Western Fells |
County/UA: | Cumberland |
Catchment: | Calder & Ehen, Catchment Boundaries, Irt |
Class: | Tump (300-399m), Wainwright Outlying Fell, Birkett, Synge (Tu,3,WO,B,Sy) |
Grid ref: | NY 08198 07030 |
Summit feature: | cairn |
Drop: | 37m |
Col: | 278m NY080074 |
OS map sheet(s): | (1:50k) 89 (1:25k) OL6N 303 |
Observations: | ground to 6m NNE is as high |
Survey: | Abney level |
GPS data: | show GPS entries for this hill |
N.B. Some hill summits are on private property or on land where there is no public right of way. Permission should be sought from the landowner where access to a hill summit is through private land.
Please report via the contact page any logs you see below which describe or encourage acts of trespass. Please quote the hill number and hill name.
Logged Descriptions (logged by 252 users) | By | Date of Ascent |
From Boat How and after seeing Eric Robson in the carpark at Gosforth and getting a little lost look for the carpark we made it, loved the Blengdale Forrest walk it was amazing, after coming out we made the boggy horrible walk to the summit. there were cows up there so Bec made a dash to touch the summit, i stayed a little longer. retraced our route back through the coz shit and the gorgeous forest. 12miles done and 27,600 steps! had a pint in the strickland arms on the way home, listened to more Karl Pilkington on the way home and ordered a mixed special kebab on garlic bread for tea. fantastic day | Scotty 2 Hotty | 30/03/2024 |
12th and final top of a 29.3km circuit from Greendale Cottages, continuation from Stone Pike following fenceline. Descent Ene over Scalderskew beck, detouring past a herd of Aberdeen Angus then following Northern perimeter of Blengdale forest to reach the River Bleng. Again, impassable without using the debris fence to get across. Followed Fp Sse now with torch on to reach wide track and followed this out to road, following it East to the Start. It took me 45 mins to change my clothes get dry and then have a bite to eat and drink before the long drive back home! | Dazingdale | 17/03/2024 |
Swainson Knott, Stone Pike, Ponsonby Fell, In Fell, Cold Fell | keithouk | 14/02/2024 |
From small parking area at Stakes Bridge. Ponsonby Fell and In Fell. With ARC and his dad. | PGCE | 05/07/2023 |
In Fell and Ponsonby Fell from NY 0561 0678. (Too hot for Swainson Knott) | summitsup | 10/06/2023 |
yorkielad | 23/05/2023 | |
Parked at Stakes Bridge: up In Fell first then followed BW to access land, across rough terrain to small cairn hidden in grass at top. then onto Stone Pike and Swainson Knott . Great views on a clear day. | PeterD | 20/04/2023 |
We followed AWs advice and went via Blengdale Forest. Parked at the carpark at the car park on the forest road just before the forest boundary NY085052 A 10km round trip through the forest then round and up onto the boggy wet fell. Back through the forest on the eastern picking up geocaches. | RowanP | 14/04/2023 |
From Gosforth. 
15 km, 500 m asc. 
Up by Blennerhazel, Hurlbarrow and Laverock How to the summit of Ponsonby Fell. 
N direct to Stone Pike sheepfold and onto Swainson Knot. 
Down NE to Scalderskew Wood and S to Scalderskew Farm and along the River Bleng. 
Easy paths and bridleways either side of rough, boggy grass on the tops. 
Dry, cold. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/samandjo/albums/72177720307185243 | SalmonJoe | 01/04/2023 |
From stakes bridge took various RoW to Ponsonby Fell via In Fell. The HP is allegedly on the RoW which is just as well as there is absolutely nothing to suggest one grassy tussock is higher than the other several hundred. An otherwise completely pointless summit. RoW are fairly well waymarked but in desperate need of some TLC. The yomp over the fell began with a gate climb to avoid the 12-18 inches of water accumulated around it. After that it was a straightforward if squelchy climb to the summit with its half hidden little cairn in the middle of some rushes. With boris | ytfckent | 06/02/2023 |
Circular walk on paths from small parking area at Stakes Bridge. Out via Farmery, back via Laverock How. | Winterfloodian | 18/07/2022 |
Ennerdale Bridge to Seascale cross country route, after Stone Pike. Good viewpoint marred only by the power station | trimarc2 | 29/06/2022 |
Parked at the bridge over the River Calder. Up the track to the interesting ruined Farmery, through a little gate beyond the stream, over some boggy ground and up to the summit. On to Stone Pike and Swainson Knott. | LizH | 26/02/2022 |
A circular exploration of the hills above the Calder valley. Staring from the tiny car park at Stakes Bridge, and visiting In Fell, Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike (and its circular enclosure), then Swainson Knott with its cairn of Bovine bones. 10km with 380m ascent in just under 3 hours. (S) | silveracorn_alan | 15/02/2022 |
With Carol. Park at “Stakes Bridge” (over the River Calder near Calder Bridge). Climb the hill along the road and then turn east along an old lane to “Farmery” (a ruined farmhouse). Cross the stream (“Birrel Sike”) and head east on the poorly defined (and wet) track towards “Scalderskew”. Before this, at the col, turn south to the summit. In mist. Return by reversing the route. 4.50 miles. 2.5 hrs. 693 ft gained. | DABT | 18/08/2021 |
With Cold Fell, from Calder Bridge | NumptyDumpty | 03/07/2021 |
From Stakes Bridge. | Slash3 | 30/05/2021 |
From Stakes Bridge: Inn Fell, Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike, Swainson Knott and Cold fell. Great views to Isle of man and Scotland, clear day. Staying at Ravenglass | Lazylizzie | 01/05/2021 |
From the layby on the main road near Ponsonby | tomd4 | 21/04/2021 |
From Gosforth With Jules and Jill via the Blengdale forestry track to Scalderskew farm on a clear hot day before bagging Stone Pike and Swainson Knott and back via Wormgill and Scalderskew Wood | Grey Hare | 09/08/2020 |
Parked at Blengdale, up through the forest and round by Skalderskew onto the top of Ponsonby Fell, back via the long way around Blengdale Forest. | Chipstertrain | 08/07/2020 |
Part of a solo circuit taking in Inn Fell, Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike and Swainson Knott (Cairn made of Bones). 
A cold but good visibility day. | Shutterlag | 19/11/2019 |
Ascent from road at Scargreen up road/bridleway towards Laverlock How and over common land to Ponsonby Fell. Return via the same route. | raymooremanx | 16/11/2019 |
Wainwright was right: the walk through Blengdale is by far the best part of this walk. From Blengdale Bridge along paths between autumnal trees, across the footbridge and up through the trees. Once on Ponsonby Fell itself, progress was a slow, marshy bogtrot, albeit with an excellent summit view. | Nick Down1 | 02/11/2019 |
Completed the round. | softsquare | 20/10/2019 |
Found the Buried Block under the cairn. | Dusty | 16/10/2019 |
After In Fell, by vague RoW from Laverock Howe | Colin Crawford | 05/09/2019 |
From good roadside car park at Stakes Bridge. Path south east along stream and through wood is delightful with easy access to In Fell. Track at Scargreen to access land and Ponsonby Fell. Thought alternative routes back would be inferior so retraced steps to enjoy the stream/woodland again. Can't understand other reports of the RoW along the stream through the wood being a poor route. Maybe depends on time of year and map reading skills. Yes it's a narrow and in a few places unclear path which I thought made it nicer. RoW from bend in road near Scargreen is obvious and easy to follow contrary to earlier report - maybe improved since then. | ijpowell | 25/05/2019 |
From Stakes Bridge for a rounds of Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike and Swainson Knott. | rhalstead | 20/04/2019 |
Many thanks to Bolton below for the route. 
Parked at Stakes Bridge and took the path which leads to the now disused Farmery. Largely overgrown and little used we then headed directly for the summit. 2 Birketts to the north and then a descent close to Needless Gill.Total clag had to rely on compass.Underfoot not as bad as all the doom merchants make out. | jocks1 | 28/12/2018 |
From Stakes Bridge, via Laverock How, then RoW into designated open access country. Frozen ground made for good going. | Isbjorn | 14/12/2018 |
Direct line from Swainson Knott. On to In Fell. | jonglew | 19/09/2018 |
AW's outlier from parking area at Stakes bridge on the river Calder then went onto Cold fell. | WAYNE ROWLETT | 16/09/2018 |
Circuit from Scargreen | Ajm0310 | 06/11/2017 |
Walked from Gosforth on my own. Glorious walking weather. Great views on the way up from Gosforth and from the summit of Ponsonby Fell, contrary to Wainwright's comments in his Outlying Fells book. | flockwatcher | 13/08/2017 |
With Clare, Eire, Evan, Sail, Danu, Coel & Alfie. | Dangerous Dave | 05/08/2017 |
WOs 48; Bs 46,47 and 48. Moved camp to Gosforth a.m. and weather cloudy with sunny spells so went for Ponsonby Fell from end of small road to the west. Easy walk up on track but rough and steep ascent on to Stone Pike and horrible bog to Swainson's Knott and back to track. Ponsonby not as bad as advertised but Swainson's Knott thoroughly unpleasant. | BURGESS | 28/07/2017 |
A horrible wet trudge | bardolph | 20/07/2017 |
Evening walk from Laverock How, Ponsonby with wife and the 4 and 2 year old. Paths OK but heat still relentless and we discovered 2 yo doesn't like walking in long grass so a hard slog for the last quarter mile above the top wall. | nukeboy1 | 18/07/2017 |
CJ | chrisj1965 | 18/04/2017 |
From Scales bridge. Getting dark but managed to navigate to Farmery OK and cross the beck at the right place and head up to the summit. On to Stone Pike. | Wycombe Wanderer | 05/12/2016 |
last of 3 hills a bit boggy in places | colinfielding | 21/11/2016 |
Done with Richard Turner on a grim very wet day. | falunty | 18/10/2016 |
Done with Richard Turner on a grim very wet day. | nitranrenrut | 18/10/2016 |
Parked at Stakes Bridge and took the path which leads to the now disused Farmery. Largely overgrown and little used we then headed directly for the summit. 2 Birketts to the north and then a descent close to Needless Gill. With GB. | bolton | 07/09/2016 |
Parking area by Stakes Bridge (3-4 cars) at 056068 - Up road for about 300m & then RoW (very overgrown in places) to Farmery - Through gate & up to summit cairn. Continued to Stone Pike & Swainson Knott. (PM) | gerrybowes | 07/09/2016 |
Last of the three Birketts, then on to In Fell. | ngthack | 05/01/2016 |
Birkett route from Blengdale, no problem parking in forest since felling has finished for time being. Up forest tracks to Skalderskew beck then to PONSONBY FELL, Stone Pike & Swainson Knott. Miserably wet underfoot as soon as forest was left - glad I won't have to repeat the experience! | citygent | 02/10/2015 |
Access to/from the NE is wet around the streams, drier slightly north of a direct line. 
Parked at wide entrance lane to High Boonwood Farm NY068047, this allows a modified AW circular route. | Nick Caunt | 17/09/2015 |
Round from No 30 bus terminus in Thornhill, down to Calder Bridge, Ponsonby Fell (what a name), Stone Pike (for what it's worth), Swainson Knott, Cold Fell and down to the bus stop just in Egremont. | Eddie | 04/07/2015 |
From Blengdale Forest carpark, over bridge then crossed back over river just past Blengdale Lodge. Steeply up hillside beside wood then track to gate onto open fell. Then to Stone Pike and Swainson. | Aye Jimmy | 15/06/2015 |
With Katy. Sunny day. | George Thompson | 07/04/2015 |
Walked from Blengdale. This was a good walk on forest tracks before heading out on to open fell to bag 3 Birketts. | Neil Haslewood | 06/02/2015 |
Parked at the Blengdale Forestry car park (NY 085 053) NO PARKING TODAY FORESTRY WORK… so I turned the sign around > Scalderskew Farm >Swainson Knott > Stone Pike > PONSONBY FELL grass area marked with a small cairn > Scalderskew Farm > CP…. turned the sign back (got away with that one) | Tony Hartry II | 16/09/2014 |
Thornholme Needless Gill Swainson Knott Stone Pike Ponsonby Fell Wheel Fell Needless Gill Thornholme | Andy Hirst | 05/09/2014 |
Climbed from Gosforth using Birketts route | robert | 15/07/2014 |
With Eire, Evan, Sail, Danu, Coel & Alfie. | Dangerous Dave | 01/07/2014 |
Birkett walk from Wellington Bridge(car park closed).Confusing directions at footbridge.Reasonable views at top disregarding Sellafield.With Oscar. | catman | 20/09/2013 |
With Catman. | oscarrosie | 20/09/2013 |
Roadside parking available through the gate north east of High Prior Scales. Head easterly, following the wall, which reaches a sheep pen then the access track to Farmery (derelict). Follow the footpath north east to cross the river, then an easy direct route to the summit. | moorsman | 25/06/2013 |
With Jo, Seren, Sarah and Eben | custard99 | 15/06/2013 |
W Jenx,very pleasant stroll around Ponsonby Fell and Swainson Knott (and Stone Pike), to find the only decent weather in Lakes this weekend. Plus pt Wainwright Outliers and t'HuMP. From woods at Blengdale despite forestry works - always better than Calder Bridge approach. | nordicstar | 19/05/2013 |
Birketts 2nd round | Dave Geere | 17/03/2013 |
Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike, Swainson Knott | ronaldo333 | 09/03/2013 |
Calder Bridge circular. Frozen terrain via S side of Birrel Sike. Excellent profile of snow clad Sca Fells from In Fell (P30) on way back. | Smudge | 02/12/2012 |
From the ford. | Anduril | 06/08/2012 |
With Swainson Knott and Stone Pike. | destaylor | 27/07/2012 |
From ford at Scargreen. Parking for one car near Ford. Bridleway then through a gate at NY 077070 then access land to summit top. Operated ham radio for Wainwrights On The Air. | G4OBK (Phil) | 27/06/2012 |
From Gosforth through the Blengdale Forest and returned the same way. Footbridge in the forest not there, but managed to cross river fairly easily just downstream. | jeffurz | 04/06/2012 |
Blengdale - Ponsonby Fell- Stone Pike - Swainson Knott (LAK 1)Note! footbridge in Blengdale Forest out of action - longish detour needed | benarbia_8 | 31/12/2011 |
Solo from Priorling and using the network of tracks up to the Farmery | ollismark | 07/10/2011 |
With Jo, circular walk from Gosforth: through forest to Scalderskew, Stone Pike, Swainson Knott, Ponsonby Fell, trip to Sampson’s Bratfull, return through forest. Weather; sunny, warm, very good visibility. | amblerbob | 15/09/2011 |
Parked opposite road to Laverock Hall, then reasonable going to Ponsonby Fell, Stone Pike and Swainson Knott. Grey day. | Dugswell2 | 02/09/2011 |
Debs, Goska and Ella | Mountain Goat | 15/01/2011 |
Climbed on a walk with The Irregulars - bagging the Outlying Fells - Led by D williams | stephenwalker | 24/07/2010 |
1 | dads | 15/06/2010 |
Dull top combined with Swainson Knott and Stone Pike. 
Lots of fences - difficult to cross. 
Parking at bridge over River Calder. Footpath to Farmery overgrown and muddy, path via Laverock How better. With Joan and Jenny. | PeteF | 31/10/2009 |
Via Blengdale Forest. Couldnt find a way over Scalderskew Beck at Gait Kirk. Skirted round forest edge from the Scalderskew Road then straight up. Small old cairn in the rushes. | mick | 10/10/2009 |
Richard Tait | 01/07/2009 | |
Birketts CLF W/LAK1, Blengdale Forestry Commission CP > River Bleng > Scalderskew Farm > PONSONBY FELL summit marked with a small cairn > Stone Pike > Swainson Knott > Scalderskew Farm > River Bleng > Blengdale Forestry Commission CP | Tony Hartry | 30/05/2009 |
From Gosforth. On tarred road for 2 miles to cross River Bleng and into forest. A mile further re-cross to W bank. Out of forest to Scalderskew. Crossed beck at a signpost and up over wet tussock, under power cable to top at 13.45. Small heap of stones in a tump of rough moor grass. | arranc | 18/03/2009 |
from teh thornholme road - as non-descript as wainwright says - a cowpat is slightly higher than the cairn - sums it up - my last outlying fell -yippee | gigglejon | 28/06/2008 |
With Eire, Evan & Barnie. | Dangerous Dave | 30/08/2006 |
R | Richard Tait | 27/05/2006 |
From here return By Lank Rigg. | smocks and denims | 03/02/2006 |
dullish summit & approach, pleasant view. b/w from SW, not well signposted, can park on road | RHW | 16/11/2003 |
2nd | Alaric | 07/11/2003 |
Part of Birkett walk, small cairn | George Gradwell | 09/05/2002 |
HOT. up W'wright route from farm over Ponsonby Fell and Swainson Knott to North d - vast empty grassy bowl to east (Day after climbing on Pillar with Darren -a long all day HVS Thanatos/ Electron) -then on to Irton Pike and Newton Fell N top | Chris Pearson | 25/06/1995 |
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David Berry | 04/10/2013 | |
David Purchase | 20/07/2013 | |
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Emma and Simon | 01/01/2008 | |
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Jim B | 22/08/2007 | |
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David Gradwell | 09/07/2002 | |
David Purchase | 22/10/2000 | |
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