Caw

Walked on 02/01/2026

Start Point: Seathwaite car park next to church (SD 229 961)

Seathwaite – Green Pikes (Outlying Fell) – Pikes (Outlying Fell) – Caw (Outlying Fell) – Seathwaite

Distance: 5.8 km
Total Ascent: 469 metres
Time Taken: 2 hours 10 minutes
Start Time: 14:15
Weather: Mainly sunny. 2ºC with a cold wind chill on the top.
Finlay’s Wainwright count: 17/214 (0 new this walk)

It was another sunny and cold day in the Lake District, perfect weather for a walk really. It’s a while since I’ve been to Green Pikes and Pikes, generally I tend to climb Caw from Broughton Mills side as it’s quicker to get to and to climb from there. None of this walk disappointed though with glorious views along the Duddon Valley to the Scafells and the rest of the high fells beyond – all covered with a sprinkling of snow today. I didn’t see anyone else at all today.

Grey Friar from the Dobby Shaw climb, heading for Green Pikes.

Harter Fell.

A great, wintry view along the Duddon Valley from the steep climb to Green Pikes. Harter Fell is on the left and the Scafells beyond with a sprinkling of snow on them.

White Pike glowing in the already setting winter sun.

The top of Green Pikes is marked with a small cairn containing only a few stones and the large shadow of Caw is looming over us.

Green Pikes can seem a strange choice for a named top as it is not too far from our next one, Pikes. The view though is outstanding and almost like being on the edge of a cliff looking out over the Duddon Valley.

Harter Fell looking like a giant, Scafell beyond.

Next stop is Pikes ahead (not quite as bad to reach as it appears in this photo!).

The moon rising over the Coniston fells, taken from Pikes.

The view of the Duddon Valley from Pikes.

On leaving Pikes there is a bit of a disheartening dip before a seemingly long and steep climb to the summit of Caw. I wasn’t sure whether I would make it before the sun dipped behind Black Combe which is probably 10-15 minutes before actual sunset. As it turned out the climb wasn’t too bad after all!

Phew, made it! The wind really picked up once on top of the Caw summit ridge and of course it was a real icy blast!

Finlay in the sunny glow.

The moon is noticeably higher over The Old Man now and the shadows ever lengthening. Pikes is still catching the sunlight, centre right.

Caw summit trig. point.

Some of the Wasdale fells in the distance – Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar.

Looking out to the west Cumbrian coast, Devoke Water nestling on Birker Fell with Sellafield works visible beyond.

The Duddon Estuary.

The sun setting behind Black Combe, Stickle Pike directly below it. it was a lovely walk with complete solitude and nice to be wrapped up well against the cold chill.

Green Pikes

Height: 411 metres / 1350 feet Grid reference: SD 23621 95089 Category: The Outlying Fells

Green Pikes, marked by a small cairn with few stones.

Scafell and Scafell Pike from Green Pike

Caw

Walked on 16/01/2007

Start point: Seathwaite, Dunnerdale (SD 228 960)

Seathwaite – Park Head Road – Stickle Tarn – Stickle Pike (OF) – Caw (OF) – Pikes (OF) – Green Pikes (OF) – Seathwaite

Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 700 metres Time Taken: 5 hours

Weather: Cool and clear. 4°C

Today I met up with Roger and Ann Hiley and their two dogs for a walk to Stickle Pike and Caw from Seathwaite in the Duddon Valley. The weather was almost unbelievably different to the wet and windy weather we have experienced over the last week or so as it was cool and clear. The views were superb from everywhere today; if only it would stay like this for a while!

Wallowbarrow Crag and Harter Fell above a cold looking Seathwaite.

Dow Crag from Park Head Road.

Passing Caw en route to Stickle Pike.

Stickle Pike ahead.

Caw from the climb up to Stickle Pike

...and the view from further up.

A clear view to Harter Fell with the Scafell range, Esk Pike and Bow Fell beyond from the summit of Stickle Pike

The Pike, centre, with Whitfell and Hesk Fell beyond across the Duddon Valley.

Casper enjoying the sunshine with a stray tail to the right!

Group summit photo - Angus, Casper, Bethan and Harry. It's bad enough getting two dogs to keep still, never mind four!

The view descending to a mirror finished Stickle Tarn

Caw across Stickle Tarn

Returning to Caw - we ascended from the south-east, to the right of this photo.

A beautiful azure sky heading for the summit of Caw.

Looking to the head of the Duddon Valley from Caw.

The Coniston fells.

Scafell Pike, Broad Crag and Ill Crag with Pen in the centre.

Harter Fell, Scafell beyond

Esk Pike.

Grey Friar.

Devoke Water.

Wallowbarrow Crag.

Dow Crag, Buck Pike, Coniston Old Man, Brown Pike, Walna Scar and White Pike.

In the sunshine on Caw - there was a cool breeze on the top today though

White Pike and White Maiden beyond Pikes, the next objective

The lowering sun gives some texture to the Scafells

...and the Coniston fells.

Panoramic Duddon Valley.

Esk Pike and Bow Fell.

Haycock, Scoat Fell and Wasdale Red Pike. The left central ridge is Illgill Head with Yewbarrow to the right and Harter Fell in the foreground.

A final view of Scafell and Scafell Pike on the descent from Green Pikes.

Caw

Walked on 18/05/2005

Start point: Seathwaite, Dunnerdale (SD 228 960)

Seathwaite – Park Head Road – Caw (OF) – Pikes (OF) – Green Pikes (OF) – Seathwaite

Distance: 4.1 miles Total Ascent: 532 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 40 minutes

Weather: Grey and overcast. 12oC.

This morning’s walk was part of the Wainwright Society’s celebratory week commemorating 50 years since the first publication of the famous ‘Pictorial Guides’. The Great Lakeland Challenge records the ascent of all 214 Wainwright fells and 56 ‘Outlying Fell’ walks in one week by Society members who have nominated their choice. I chose Caw as it commands an outstanding view along the Duddon Valley and it has a great pyramidal shape when viewed from the valley below.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of a grey day today and the clarity of last week has gone although it is still felt chilly on the tops. This walk follows Wainwright’s Caw chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 120.

Caw route map.

Elevation profile of the walk.

3D image of the walk route.

Seathwaite from Park Head Road.

The Duddon Valley and Harter Fell along Park Head Road, the old quarry road used in ascent. In the distance are Esk Pike, Bow Fell and the Crinkle Crags.

Old Level, Caw Quarry.

The Duddon Estuary from Caw.

Caw summit.

Caw, from Pikes.

The view north from Green Pikes.

Harter Fell from Green Pikes.

Rock formations on Green Pikes.

White Pike.

The beautiful pyramid of Caw from Ulpha in the Duddon Valley.

Ulpha Bridge.

Caw

Walked on 12/01/2005

Start point: Seathwaite, Dunnerdale (SD 228 960)

Seathwaite – Park Head Road – Caw (OF) – Pikes (OF) – Green Pikes (OF) – Seathwaite

Weather: Mainly dull and with rain and strong winds towards the end.

Well, the high winds of last night dropped by lunchtime and the skies were blue (sometimes!) so I managed to fit in a quick walk this afternoon. Today’s walk follows Wainwright’s Caw chapter in his book ‘The Outlying Fells of Lakeland’, page 120. The pyramid of Caw is recognisable from many other places in the Lake District and really deserves to be included in the full Wainwright list – whatever, it is still worth a visit.

Caw route map.

Elevation profile of the route.

3D image of the walk route.

Seathwaite with Wallowbarrow Crag behind and Harter Fell in the distance, right.

Looking along Park Head Road. Esk Pike is in the distance, directly in line with the road, next right is the pointy Bow Fell, Crinkle Crags and Cold Pike.

The sun shines on Harter Fell.

Old level, Caw Quarry.

The Duddon Estuary from Caw.

The Coniston Fells from Caw, annotated.

The Coniston Fells from Caw.

Caw from Pikes.

Rock formations on Green Pikes.

Caw and the Dunnerdale Fells

Walked on 01/06/2004

Start point: Stephenson Ground (SD 235 931)

Stephenson Ground – Green Pikes (OF) – Pikes (40) – Caw (41) (OF) – Brock Barrow (42) – Fox Haw (43) – Raven’s Crag (44) – Carter Ground – Stephenson Ground

Weather: Overcast turning to drizzle.

A short walk this morning over another almost undiscovered jewel – Caw and the Dunnerdale Fells. It is not often you can walk completely alone for miles, especially during half term, but this was the case today.

The path from Stephenson Ground

I started from the tiny hamlet of Stephenson Ground and walked high along a ridge overlooking the River Lickle as far as Natty Bridge where the path began to rise. A heron was sat here, looking for its breakfast before it spotted me and majestically flew away.

Rock formations on Green Pikes. As the path levelled out, ahead of me was Dawson Pike with its vivid white quartz summit and a sharp left turn took me to the summit of Green Crags, a non-descript top with strange slate formations.

Caw from Green Pikes summit. A quick hop and I was onto Pikes, I could see Caw ahead, in and out of the swirling mist.

The Duddon Estuary from Pikes summit.

Ordnance column on Caw with Grey Friar appearing through the mist. A short descent and then a zigzag path led to the summit of Caw, the ordnance survey column seemingly lower than the main top. The views from here were excellent, the distant tops of Harter Fell, Bowfell and Grey Friar in and out of the mist. I hung around here for a little while to try and catch the threatened temperature inversion, but it never quite happened.

Harter Fell, The Duddon Valley, Bowfell in the far centre and Grey Friar from the summit of Caw.

Brock Barrow. Again a descent, across a flat hollow (Long Mire) a hurdle over an ancient wall and up to the rocky top of Brock Barrow - decked out with aerial masts for the Duddon and Dunnerdale valleys below.

Stickle Pike (Dunnerdale) from the summit of Fox Haw, Black Combe and Buck Barrow are in the distance. Back over the wall and onto a rocky ridge to find a curiosity, namely a solar panel with a plaque 'Global Seismology Research Group', based in Edinburgh. Along the ridge to the summit of Fox Haw with lovely views of Stickle Pike and over to Black Combe, the Whitfell group and Devoke Water - the fells I had rounded on 13th May.

Caw from Raven's Crag summit. Again following the bumpy ridge I came to the summit of Raven's Crag. A steep descent towards Carter Ground, past the old Copper Mine and through a gate where the bridleway passes through the garden. A short stroll and I was back on the tarmac for the walk back to Stephenson Ground.

Stephenson Ground.