Striding Edge

A photo diary of Lake District fell walks

  • Walks
  • Fells
    • Wainwrights
      • Eastern Fells
      • Far Eastern Fells
      • Central Fells
      • Southern Fells
      • Northern Fells
      • North Western Fells
      • Western Fells
      • Outlying Fells
    • Birketts
  • Dogs
  • Love The Lakes
  • Contact

Crag Fell

Height: 523 metres / 1716 feet Grid reference: NY 09729 14384 Category: The Western Fells

Early morning light on Crag Fell over Ennerdale Water

Early morning light on Crag Fell over Ennerdale Water

The north-western fells from the summit of Crag Fell

The north-western fells from the summit of Crag Fell

Grike and Crag Fell from Ennerdale Fell

Grike and Crag Fell from Ennerdale Fell

Lank Rigg

Walked on 18/10/2012

Cold Fell Road – Blakeley Raise – Grike – Crag Fell – Whoap – Lank Rigg – Cold Fell Road

Distance: 6.4 miles     Total Ascent: 565 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 45 minutes     Start Time: 09:50

Weather: Showers and a strong wind. 12C.

It was damp with a strong wind today making it feel decidedly chilly; I wore gloves throughout which shows how cold it was. There were quite a few showers but at least the strong wind made sure they blew away quickly.

Lank Rigg

Lank Rigg route map.

013

Whoap and Lank Rigg from the climb to Blakeley Raise.

014

Dent from Blakeley Raise.

015

Grike ahead (there is a descent at the midline of this photo, so not quite as easy as it looks here!).

016

Criffel across the Solway Firth.

017

Knock Murton and Blake Fell.

018

Whoap and Lank Rigg panorama - the return leg of the walk.

019

Grike.

020

The summit cairns on Grike.

021

Ennerdale Fell, to the right is Whoap.

022

The boggy path to Crag Fell.

023

Looking back to Grike.

024

The north western fells from Crag Fell.

025

The wild boys, windswept on Crag Fell.

026

Ennerdale Water below looking to Great Borne.

027

That sky is looking a bit ominous over the high fells at the head of Ennerdale.

028

Ennerdale Fell.

029

Grike and Crag Fell from Ennerdale Fell.

030

Whoap.

031

Lank Rigg ahead.

032

Whoap Beck valley.

033

Looking back to Whoap from the climb to Lank Rigg.

034

Lank Rigg.

035

A panoramic view from the summit.

036

Wainwrights treasure seems to have moved but there are still plenty of coins - I added by two bob's worth!

037

Lank Rigg Tarn looking to Caw Fell.

038

Looking out to the west Cumbrian coast, Sellafield in view.

039

The summit of Lank Rigg.

040

Blakeley Raise from the descent.

041

Grike and Crag Fell from the direct descent of Lank Rigg - I could see where the car was from the top so I went for it. I knew it would be a bit boggy going this way but the heavens opened too making it a bit of a damp affair. Then I had to cross the River Calder...good job it wasn't far to the car after that! On the way home, you guessed it...

042

Ennerdale Circuit

Walked on 28/06/2011

Start point: Bleach Green, Ennerdale (NY 085 153)

Bleach Green – Bowness – Great Borne – Starling Dodd – Little Dodd (Ennerdale) – Red Pike (Buttermere) – High Stile – High Crag – Memorial Bridge, Ennerdale – High Level Traverse – Shamrock Traverse – Pillar – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Haycock – Little Gowder Crag – Caw Fell – Ennerdale Fell – Crag Fell – Bleach Green

Distance: 18 miles     Total Ascent: 2183 metres     Time Taken: 10 hours     Start Time: 06:00

Weather: Sunny and warm. 15°C

It’s a good while since I have done a full day walk and today seemed like a good opportunity to do a circuit of lovely Ennerdale. The weather was superb, a bit fresher than of late and the air was clearer for it. It was a great day out amongst my favourite fells and it was relatively quiet up there too, although it was good to chat to StridingEdge fans on Scoat Fell and then on Steeple. 

Ennerdale

Ennerdale circuit route map.

28.06.11-009

Early morning in Ennerdale.

28.06.11-013

Pillar silhouetted at the head of the Water.

28.06.11-016

Crag Fell.

28.06.11-027

Looking out from the shadows on the steep climb to Great Borne.

28.06.11-034

Suddenly, out of the shadows and into the sunlight and heading for the summit of Great Borne.

28.06.11-036

Gavel Fell from Great Borne.

28.06.11-042

Ennerdale. The outward leg of today's walk is to the left, the return is to the right.

28.06.11-050

The Loweswater fells - Gavel Fell, Hen Comb and Mellbreak.

28.06.11-052

Grasmoor across Crummock Water.

28.06.11-053

Any old iron? Starling Dodd summit.

28.06.11-058

Layers of fells.

28.06.11-068

Early morning shadow on Little Dodd.

28.06.11-074

Starling Dodd and Great Borne from the climb to Red Pike.

28.06.11-077

The summit of Red Pike.

28.06.11-081_stitch

A panoramic view from Red Pike, Loweswater and Crummock Water in view.

28.06.11-086

Casper and Dougal, hot already.

28.06.11-090

Bleaberry Tarn and beyond on the way to High Stile.

28.06.11-093

High Stile summit.

28.06.11-094

Ennerdale Water.

28.06.11-100_stitch

A great panoramic view from High Stile - Red Pike and Dodd to the left, Crummock Water and Grasmoor to the right.

28.06.11-104

A clear view across to the Scafells, Great Gable and Kirk Fell...and of course the mighty Pillar.

28.06.11-113

A panoramic across Ennerdale.

28.06.11-114

Robinson across Buttermere.

28.06.11-117

Pillar looks so tempting from here.

28.06.11-118

Grasmoor and the Coledale fells across Buttermere.

28.06.11-121

High Stile from the summit of High Crag.

28.06.11-126

A view through to Skiddaw and Blencathra from High Crag.

28.06.11-136

Instead of descending Gamlin End, I decided to go for a route 1 steeper than steep descent to Ennerdale direct (for masochists only this one, a real leg trembler!). I can see the Memorial Bridge from here (to the left of the tree line) where I want to cross and then the route of ascent is up and above the rocky knoll then to the right following the line of the beck before cutting diagonally left beneath Pillar Rock.

28.06.11-131

Dougal tries to stop himself sliding all the way down into Ennerdale.

28.06.11-138

You see yon precipice--it almost looks Like some vast building made of many crags, And in the midst is one particular rock That rises like a column from the vale, Whence by our Shepherds it is call'd, the Pillar. Extract from 'The Brothers', William Wordsworth 1800

28.06.11-149

Down at the Memorial Bridge.

28.06.11-146

Crossing the River Liza - Casper is easy to spot but can you see Dougal?

28.06.11-141

Time for lunch (even though it is only 10.30!) and a seat with a fantastic view of Pillar Rock towering above. Now all I have to do is climb up there. To be continued...after my lunch...

28.06.11-152

Looking back across to High Crag from the climb to Pillar. The route I used in descent is the diagonal scree run to the right.

28.06.11-155

Ennerdale and the fells just walked.

28.06.11-159

Into the lost valley. Pillar Rock naturally dominates the scene on this section of the walk.

28.06.11-168

Magnificent Pillar Rock.

28.06.11-172

Haystacks with Robinson's Cairn bottom right.

28.06.11-176

Rounding the base of it to join the High Level Traverse.

28.06.11-182

High Stile panoramic.

28.06.11-199

Phew, made it! Dougal gets an eye opener when he spots the Shamrock Traverse.

28.06.11-204

Pisgah and the east face of High Man. No Slab and Notch route for me today!

28.06.11-209

It all looks so reachable from the Shamrock Traverse but there is a climb needed from any angle.

28.06.11-212

Climbing higher with a view over Pillar Rock to High Stile and High Crag and the fells beyond.

28.06.11-213

The summit of Pillar.

28.06.11-221

Ennerdale from Pillar.

28.06.11-225

Time for a second lunch stop on Pillar with a view to Great Gable, the Scafells and Wasdale Head.

28.06.11-227

Looking back to Pillar from Black Crag.

28.06.11-229

The east face of Steeple from Black Crag.

28.06.11-231

Red Pike - the Wasdale one.

28.06.11-232

Scoat Fell summit and a couple of StridingEdge fans ahead.

28.06.11-234

Pillar from Scoat Fell.

28.06.11-236

The route to airy Steeple and Dougal and Casper have spotted yet another StridingEdge fan to greet us.

28.06.11-239

Pillar and Great Gable from Steeple.

28.06.11-242

Ennerdale Water.

28.06.11-244

Looking back on the descent of Scoat Fell - it looks like there is a party on Steeple to the left now.

28.06.11-245

Heading for Haycock.

28.06.11-263

Steeple and Scoat Fell from the summit of Haycock.

28.06.11-265

Dougal checks out the route over Little Gowder Crag to Caw Fell.

28.06.11-269

Caw Fell.

28.06.11-275

Haycock from Caw Fell where we met some Beardie fans!

28.06.11-276

The descent of Caw Fell following the wall to Iron Crag on Ennerdale Fell.

28.06.11-279

The summit of Ennerdale Fell - Pillar, Steeple, Scoat Fell and Haycock in view.

28.06.11-285

The long walk in following the Ennerdale Fence.

28.06.11-295

Crag Fell.

28.06.11-301

An Ennerdale panoramic from Crag Fell.

28.06.11-313

The field back to the car park was full of cows so I didn't fancy crossing that with the two cow magnets in tow, so was forced to take a detour back down to the lake and passed this summer meadow on the way.

Lank Rigg

Walked on 24/03/2009

Start point: Cold Fell Road (NY 066 130)

Cold Fell Road – Blakeley Raise – Grike – Crag Fell – Whoap – Lank Rigg – Cold Fell Road

Distance: 6.4 miles     Total Ascent: 565 metres     Time Taken: 2 hours 45 minutes

Weather: Sunny with slight haze but cool on the tops. 8°C.

This was another area I have left too long to visit since the last time I was here in 2004. The weather was much better than on any previous visit but the breeze had a cold edge to it and gloves were required throughout. Nice to see the hidden treasure had made a reappearance on Lank Rigg once more.

Lank Rigg

Lank Rigg route map.

24.03.09-002

Dent from the start of the climb to Blakely Raise from the Cold Fell road.

24.03.09-008

Grike from the top of Blakely Raise.

24.03.09-021

The fells that are to be the return leg later, Whoap and Lank Rigg.

24.03.09-022

Frog spawn under ice on the descent from Blakely Raise.

24.03.09-030

The Calder Valley and Cold Fell with the towers of Sellafield in view over the top.

24.03.09-032

Flat Fell and Cleator Moor from the climb to Grike.

24.03.09-036

Blake Fell and Gavel Fell from Grike.

24.03.09-044

Casper on Grike.

24.03.09-049

A silhouette of Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple beyond Iron Crag on Ennerdale Fell. My route after Crag Fell was to descend through the trees and climb with the wall to the kink, then head of to Whoap on the right.

24.03.09-055

Heading for Crag Fell.

24.03.09-062

The north-western fells from the summit of Crag Fell.

24.03.09-065

Looking back to Grike.

24.03.09-068

Bowness Knott, Herdus and Great Borne across Ennerdale Water.

24.03.09-070

The view to the north across the end of Ennerdale Water.

24.03.09-083

Ennerdale - the High Stile ridge to the left and Pillar to the right.

24.03.09-086

Ennerdale Fell with Pillar beyond.

24.03.09-090

Crag Fell and the Ennerdale Fence.

24.03.09-093

The solitary boulder that marks the top of Whoap, here looking across Great Borne to Grasmoor.

24.03.09-100

Lank Rigg.

24.03.09-105

Looking along Whoap Beck valley.

24.03.09-110

Caw Fell with Haycock beyond and Seatallan to the right.

24.03.09-120

A view through to Grasmoor from the climb to Lank Rigg.

24.03.09-124

Caw Fell from the summit Lank Rigg.

24.03.09-126

Wainwrights buried treasure on Lank Rigg!

24.03.09-128

The view across Lank Rigg summit tarn.

24.03.09-142

Descending the north western slope of Lank Rigg.

24.03.09-162

Whoap from the crossing of the River Calder. On the way home, Daffodils on the banks of the River Duddon...

24.03.09-170

...millions of them!

24.03.09-177

24.03.09-188

Ennerdale Circuit

Walked on 09/05/2005

Start point: Bleach Green, Ennerdale (NY 085 153)

Bleach Green – Bowness – Brown How (Ennerdale) – Herdus – Great Borne – Gale Fell – Starling Dodd – Little Dodd (Ennerdale) –  Red Pike (Buttermere) (357) – High Stile (358) – High Crag (359) – Haystacks (360) –  Looking Stead – High Level Traverse – Shamrock Traverse – Pillar – Black Crag (Pillar) – Scoat Fell – Steeple – Haycock – Little Gowder Crag – Caw Fell – Ennerdale Fell – Crag Fell – Bleach Green

Distance: 23.6 miles     Total Ascent: 2864 metres     Time Taken: 10 hour 20 minutes

Weather: Mainly sunny with lots of snow (!) showers. 7-11°C, valley level – much colder on the tops.

Today’s walk is a long, high level circuit of the beautiful Ennerdale Valley with virtually the whole route being completed at an elevation in excess of 500m. I have had this one on my list of ‘to do’ walks for a while so it was satisfying to complete the walk on a mainly clear day. The photo’s here actually belie the conditions somewhat as the clouds came in when I was crossing from Haystacks to Pillar and there was an icy blizzard. The snow showers continued to come and go throughout the rest of the walk and conditions remained very cold.

Ennerdale Circuit

Ennerdale Circuit route map.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 002

An early morning silhouette of Ennerdale.

Ennerdale Circuit - panorama2

The sunlight on Crag Fell.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 020

A good view from Red Pike of the round completed last Thursday.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 023

Crummock Water from Red Pike.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 025

High Snockrigg and Robinson over Buttermere with Bleaberry Tarn in the foreground.

Ennerdale Circuit - panorama3

Looking from High Stile across Bleaberry Tarn and Red Pike to Mellbreak and Crummock Water. Loweswater is visible in the distance.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 041

The sun lights up Pillar Rock across Ennerdale on the north face of Pillar - from High Crag.

Ennerdale Circuit - panorama4

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 048

Fleetwith Pike and Dale Head from High Crag.

Ennerdale Circuit - panorama6

High Crag from Haystacks with Ennerdale to the left and the Buttermere Valley to the right.

Ennerdale Circuit - 9th May 062

Green Gable, Great Gable and Kirk Fell at the head of Ennerdale from Haystacks. The clouds were ominously creeping up behind me now and minutes later this view was obliterated by a blizzard.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 001

Thankfully it had cleared up again by the time I reached the High Level Traverse of Pillar. This is a view of Pillar Rock from Pillar.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 009

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 012

The east face of Steeple from Black Crag.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 018

Steeple again, from Scoat Fell across Mirk Cove.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 021

Pillar from Steeple. Steeple is a lofty, airy pinnacle and it's shape makes it feel as though you are in mid-air - one of my favourites.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 025

Steeple, Pillar and Scoat Fell from Haycock.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 028

The barren Caw Fell from Little Gowder Crag.

Ennerdale Circuit2 - 9th May 029

Pillar, Scoat Fell, Little Gowder Crag and Haycock from Caw Fell.

Ennerdale Circuit - panorama8_small

Ennerdale from Crag Fell.

Lank Rigg

Walked on 05/08/2004

Start point: Cold Fell road (NY 060 138)

Cold Fell Road – Blakeley Raise (127) – Grike (128) – Crag Fell (129) – Whoap (130) – Lank Rigg (131) – Kinniside (132) – Latter Barrow (133) – Swarth Fell (Kinniside) (134) – Burn Edge (135) – Cold Fell Road

Weather: Rain.

Another muggy, overcast day today and a walk where solitude is virtually guaranteed on the western fringe of the Lake District – a round of the Lank Rigg group of fells.

The walk starts from The Cold Fell road where there are plenty of verge parking places available. I made a direct ascent from the road up the grassy slope of Blakely Raise.

Lank Rigg

5th August - Lank Rigg 002

Grike from Blakely Raise summit. From the summit, I followed the fence down to a sheep intake and a gate which had to be climbed as it would not open and onto the main forest road. Following the road to a gate on the left, it was then up more grassy slopes to the summit of Grike, stepping over a wire fence en-route.

5th August - Lank Rigg 008

Crag Fell and Great Borne from the summit of Grike. An easy descent past a weather station and then a simple climb took me to the summit of Crag Fell with Ennerdale Water below and silhouettes of Pillar, Scoat Fell and Haycock visible through the murk.

5th August - Lank Rigg 017

Herdus and Great Borne with Starling Dodd to the right across Ennerdale Water from Crag Fell.

5th August - Lank Rigg 018

Looking to the head of Ennerdale Water from Crag Fell, the High Stile ridge to the left and Pillar just visible on the right. I followed the track down another easy descent to a forest fire break, through the break and over a stile to the stone wall of the Ennerdale Fence. This wall continues for many miles over many summits.

5th August - Lank Rigg 023

The Ennerdale Fence. I followed the fence until the first gate and then swung right to ascend another grassy slope, Whoap.

5th August - Lank Rigg 027

Lank Rigg from the stone marking the summit of Whoap. From Whoap, another descent to a dip and then steeply up to the summit Lank Rigg, the high point of this round.

5th August - Lank Rigg 035

Whoap from the summit of Lank Rigg. From here, I passed an un-named summit tarn and then descended past an ancient cairn on a grassy track between the rocks. Across the very wet Poukes Moss to an un-named grassy mound on O.S maps - Birkett has christened it Kinniside.

5th August - Lank Rigg 040

Latter Barrow from the summit cairn on Kinniside. From here it's an easy traverse to Latter Barrow, clearly visible ahead.

5th August - Lank Rigg 045

Kinniside and Lank Rigg from Latter Barrow. From Latter Barrow, I had a steep descent to the River Calder, decisions-decisions on the best place to cross and then steeply up the bracken slopes to Swarth Fell. For this part of the journey I was accompanied by a buzzard soaring overhead - I'm not sure if he thought I was on my last legs...

5th August - Lank Rigg 050

Crossing the River Calder

5th August - Lank Rigg 053

and a buzzard circles overhead

5th August - Lank Rigg 055

Lank Rigg, Kinniside and Latter Barrow from the summit cairn of Swarth Fell. From Swarth Fell it is an easy descent to Burn Edge, the summit is marked with scattered stones. From here, all the fells of the completed round can be seen - a great viewpoint.

5th August - Lank Rigg 062

Crag Fell and Whoap from Burn Edge. From Burn Edge, the grassy shoulder leads directly down to the road and the start point of the walk.

Walking Diary

  • The Mosedale Horseshoe 01/03/2022
  • Caw 18/01/2022
  • Coniston sunset 17/01/2022
  • Blencathra 15/01/2022
  • Scafell Pike 14/01/2022

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Information

  • Striding Edge
  • T&C’s
  • Privacy
  • Links