United Kingdom
England
North West England
Cumbria
Eden
Martindale
The Nab Summit Cairn
United Kingdom
England
North West England
Cumbria
Eden
Martindale
The Nab Summit Cairn
Hiking Highlight
Recommended by 28 hikers
This Highlight is in a protected area
Please check local regulations for: Lake District National Park
Hikes to The Nab’s dramatically perched summit are spectacular. Few hills are named as appropriately; its grassy cone rises dramatically in one fell swoop from verdant Martindale Common to its lofty apex. Its prominence gives a terrific view over Bannerdale and Rampsgill on either side and the green pastures to the north, beyond which Hallin Fell hides Ullswater’s shores.
The fell is effectively the abrupt termination of a ridge protruding north from the higher Rest Dodd. The ground between the two represents one of the most extensive peat hags in the region. You’ll either think it’s great fun to jump and bound along or consider it a right, boggy pain. If it’s wet, this is awkward territory. Walking routes to The Nab are possible all year round if you pack the appropriate layers.
Martindale is exquisitely lovely and said to be the home of the oldest native red deer herd in England. Howtown to the north has a hotel and there are plenty of campsites on Ullswater’s famously picturesque shores.
The Nab is a 1,890-foot (576 m) Wainwright fell in the Lake District National Park. The summit is marked by a cairn. Access to this fell for hill walkers has been problematic for many years as there is no marked public right of way to access this fell from the north. In order to avoid conflict I have only ever approached The Nab as an out-and-back from the south as part of a longer route. This in itself can be difficult in poor weather as the ground is very soft between the two fells. Either way, look out for deer when on The Nab as there are hundreds of them roaming this area.
June 25, 2021
We visited here a couple of weekends ago and the weather was spot on. We walked from Brothers Water, up to Rest Dodd, and then over to The Nab. It was a good walk and although longer than from the north, it certainly gave us great views that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. I can see however, that in poor weather conditions the peat hags would be a bit of a nightmare to get across on this route, so make sure you're well equipment and have the right gear if you attempt in these conditions. Otherwise, on a clear spring day, we couldn't have asked for more...Well except seeing some of the majestic deer of course.
We have a blog on the walk if it is of help to any readers here too:
truefreedomseekers.com/brock-crags-rest-dodd-the-nab-walk
May 4, 2022
The Nab is one of the less frequented Wainwright fells. In his day just getting here at all would be trespassing but now the whole fell is Access land. Most walkers still approach from Rest Dodd but there are some unpleasant peat hags at the col between the two fells. Expect to see Red Deer anywhere between The Nab River and Rest Dodd.
February 18, 2023
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