The Nab

The Nab is a fell in the English Lake District. It has a moderate height of 576 metres (1,890 feet), and lies in the quieter eastern high ground between Ullswater and Haweswater Reservoir. The Nab is included in Alfred Wainwright's list of Lakeland fells and many walkers feel compelled to climb it to complete their list of 'Wainwrights' even though it is not a significant fell and is awkward to reach.

Topography

The Nab is a top on the northern ridge of Rest Dodd, one of the horseshoe of fells surrounding the Martindale catchment. It divides the valleys of Bannerdale and Rampsgill, which meet below the nose of the ridge to form How Grain. The sides of the ridge are steep and rough, but the top is broad and level. It is scarred by peat hags, some deeper than a man.

Access and History

When Alfred Wainwright wrote his pictorial guide to the Far Eastern Fells in the 1950s The Nab, as part of the Martindale Deer Forest was strictly out of bounds. He wrote in the chapter on The Nab:

The Nab is now open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 so things seem to have changed these days; there are still 'Private' notices posted, but the barbed wire and barricades have gone and walkers seem to be tolerated except during the stalking season. It is probably still a good idea to check with the Dalemain Estate (who administer the property) at their offices in Pooley Bridge to see if walking is allowed on a specific date.

Anybody approaching from the...
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