Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top)
868m (2849ft)
The Northern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
The summit of Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) is marked by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point.
You can find Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) & all the walks that climb it on these unique free-to-access Interactive Walk Planning Maps: (click/TAP to select)
1:25,000 scale OS Explorer Map (the ones with orange/yellow covers):
1:50,000 scale OS Landranger Map (the ones with pink/magenta covers):
See Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) and the surrounding tops on our free-to-access 'Google Style' Peak Bagging Maps:
See Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) and the surrounding tops on our downloadable PDF Peak Bagging Maps:
*Walk & bag all 24 Wainwrights in The Northern Fells area of The Lake District in just 7 easy-to-follow circular walks.
*This version is marked with the walk routes you need to follow to Walk all 214 Wainwrights in just 59 walks. Click here for more information.
NB: Whether you print off a copy on to paper or download it to your phone, these PDF Peak Baggers Maps will prove incredibly useful when your are up there on the tops and you cannot get a phone signal!
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 3.75ml (6km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,398ft (731m) |
| Time: | 3.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Threlkeld - Gategill Farm - Hall's Fell - Hall's Fell Ridge - Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) - Gategill Fell Top - Knowe Crags (Blease Fell) - Threlkeld
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 5.25ml (8.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,255ft (687m) |
| Time: | 4½ hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Scales - Mousthwaite Comb - Scales Fell - Brunt Knott - Scales Beck - Scales Tarn - Sharp Edge - Atkinson Pike - Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) - Scales Fell - Mousthwaite Comb - Scales
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 6.25ml (10km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,565ft (782m) |
| Time: | 4.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Scales - Mousthwaite Comb - Scales Fell - Brunt Knott - Scales Beck - Scales Tarn - Sharp Edge - Atkinson Pike - Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) - Gategill Fell Top - Knowe Crag (Blease Fell) - Scales
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.5ml (15km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,070ft (936m) |
| Time: | 6½ hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Mungrisdale - Souther Fell - River Glendermackin - Brunt Knott - Scales Beck - Scales Tarn - Sharp Edge - Atkinson Pike - Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) - Foule Crag - Bannerdale Crags - Bowscale Fell - Tarn Crags Top - Raven Crags - Mungrisdale
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11ml (17.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,264ft (995m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Mungrisdale - Souther Fell - River Glendermackin - Brunt Knott - Scales Beck - Scales Tarn - Sharp Edge - Atkinson Pike - Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) - Mungrisdale Common - Bannerdale Crags - Bowscale Fell - Tarn Crags Top - Raven Crags - Mungrisdale
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top)
James Hughes walked up Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on May 8th, 2025 [from/via/route] c245 Blencathra from Mungrisdale [weather] Cloudy at times, otherwise sunny. Warm when sheltered. Cool breeze with strong breeze on tops. - Awesome climb up Hall's Fell from White Horse in Scales. Technical in places with good scrambling. Admired Sharp Edge on way to Atkinson Pike. Descent to Mungrisdale Common, peaty in places. Great view across to Skiddaw. Return to Bannerdale Crags before ascent of Bowscale Fell. Easy descent into Mungrisdale before final climb of Souter Fell. Clear path down Mousthwaite Comb & return on road to White Horse. Pint of Corby Blonde.
Paul Roddam climbed Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on April 12th, 2025 [from/via/route] From Mungrisdale [with] Bri, Rice and Barber [weather] bloody lovely
Martin Woods bagged Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on March 4th, 2023 [from/via/route] From mungrisdale with crusham [with] N/A [weather] Overcast, 10 degerees in the valley cold on the tops
Richard Holmes hiked Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on March 13th, 2025 [from/via/route] Threlkeld [with] Myself. [weather] Very windy hail on top - Turned back up sharp edge
Ian Ashton summited Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on December 19th, 2024 [with] Solo
Tim Winn conquered Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on September 13th, 2024 [from/via/route] Threlkeld [with] Jane, Barry and Louise [weather] Dry with sunny intervals.
David Higginbottom scaled Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on April 23rd, 2024 [from/via/route] C245 [with] Carolyn [weather] Good
Martin Hartshorne walked up Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on January 12th, 2024 [from/via/route] Mungrisdale [with] finley [weather] Grey low cloud cold, up thro the clouds blue skies & sunshine, stunning - All you could see was the highest mountain peaks poking out of the cloud
Andy Dickinson has climbed Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) [from/via/route] Scales
Neil Heywood bagged Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) on July 20th, 2023 [from/via/route] Blencatgra visitor centre [with] Logan Heywood Mike Hills [weather] Mixed
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top)
*Skiddaw from Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) with the Solway Firth in the distance
Sharp Edge, Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) from Bannerdale Crags
Great Mell Fell Summit cairn with Sharp Edge , Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) beyond
Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) and Sharp Edge from Little Mell Fell
Standing on the Ordnance Survey Concrete Ring on the summit of Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top)
Looking North along the High Rigg Ridge to Skiddaw (left) and Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) (right)
High Rigg summit cairn - with Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) beyond
Looking North along the High Rigg Ridge to Skiddaw (left) and Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) (right)
A snow capped Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) viewed from the summit of Skiddaw
Send us your photographs and pictures on, of, or from Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top)
If you would like to add your walk photographs and pictures featuring views from, on or of Blencathra or Saddleback (Hallsfell Top) to this page, please send them as email attachments (configured for any computer) along with your name to:
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