Looking at the weather forecast, today was not necessarily a day for walking on the fells as strong winds, cloud and rain were predicted. At home though, the sun was shining brightly and the weather was okay, so I thought I’d go and have a look somewhere to the south and west. It turned out not to be a bad choice as the cloud was down most of the time on the high fells but the Birker Fell area was mostly in sunshine with any cloud quickly blowing through. It was indeed windy throughout and in some of the ‘wind tunnel’ areas the wind was very strong.
I would guess this area is always quiet, even in the height of summer. I would also guess that this area is boggy and squelchy, even in the height of summer! Much of this route is pathless as well but the navigation is easy enough if there is no mist.
Crook Crag was a bit of a surprise to me as when I looked, the only time I have been up there was in 2004! I must have been there more times than that, I shall have to check the annals. The ascent and descent using this route are really quite gentle – easy going that was made harder by the soggy and tussocky ground.
I descended Great Crag by the steep, grassy rake which in my mind will always be ‘Angus Rake’ – there are certainly some memories from this area.
It was so windy this morning! the higher fells were enveloped in cloud for the whole walk and there were no views of the Scafells, Bowfell and all the usual suspects including Coniston. The south-western corner of the Lakes was a little different though as there was bright sunshine all around and any clouds that appeared soon blew through. This photo from the start of the walk shows Green Crag to the right with Crook Crag to the left; Harter Fell is in the centre distance with Great Crag and Little Crag (where we would finish up) in the left foreground.Climbing higher towards great Worm Crag looking back down towards the Birker Fell road and the Cumbrian Coast beyond. The area below, in the dip, was a boggy mess as expected – a real squelch-fest!Made it! The top of Great Worm Crag and it was mighty cold up here with that wind. We will skirt around to the right to end up at Green Crag, the central highest point.Green Crag lit up by the sun.The view from Great Worm Crag looking out to the west coast, Devoke Water is visible.Finlay sporting the windswept look.The thin path ahead leads to White How.Caw and Stickle Pike from White How on Birker Moor.Sunshine looking to Green Crag from White How. I walked a little to the east of the summit knoll and sat down to shelter for 5 minutes from the wind which blowing straight across from the Irish Sea and take in the view. As I sat down someone appeared coming from the opposite direction, which was a surprise as I had not spotted anyone and definitely thought there would be no-one up here today. This would count as a busy day on White How I am sure. I also thought about the colourful naming system on Birker Moor – so far I had been to White Wall, Red Scar and White How and I was heading to Green Crag, Silver How and Black Crag. Interesting!I had planned to head directly across to Green Crag but not too far below the path was the oddly named Wormshell How, so I took a small detour to visit it. There is nothing much to say about it really, apart from this great view of Harter Fell.
Finlay is the Master of all he surveys! It wasn’t like that on Harter Fell when we were last there Finlay my lad!The way ahead and the climb from Wormshell How to Green Crag.Harter Fell from Green Crag summit. Once more there were strong winds on the top and even a short burst of rain which thankfully blew over almost as soon as it started.Stand to attention! Wainwright #24 for Finlay, Green Crag.Descending to the col before climbing to Crook Crag. There are actually two named tops over there – The Pike and Crook Crag.Looking back to Green Crag from The Pike. Can you spot the fell runner in this photo?At the top of Crook Crag.The Scafells with Bowfell just about visible, again from Crook Crag.I descended by returning to the col, passing the boundary stone (there are no markings on it but there is an upright stone and it is marked on the map) and skirting the western side of Green Crag. I tried to avoid most of the boggy sections before climbing up here to Broad Crag.From there it was a pathless descent over Meeting Hill to Great Crag with this small cairn marking the highest point. There is another cairn on the rocks to the north-west but that looked lower to me.The route of descent was via Angus Rake on Great Crag – does anyone remember that?! It is the diagonal grass cut through the rock running from the bottom right up to the left. One from the good old days! If you have found it or remember it, leave a comment below.
Here’s a couple of blasts from the past…
Angus on Angus Rake in 2007.
Dougal and Casper on Angus Rake in 2010.
Looking back to Great Crag from Little Crag, the final lump for the day. To get back to the Birker Fell road, unfortunately there is first a decent before crossing a couple of becks and a bit of a trudge back up to the road.
9 thoughts on “Green Crag”
ian allington
Great set – years since Ive been on worm crag – one for the summer I think 😀
Green Crag always looks amazing and would be frequented more I’m sure if it wasnt for the bog fest in that area.
Thanks Ian, great worm Crag would be a good summer evening walk for sunset probably. I always think Green crag is neither here nor there and a bit of an awkward one. The fact that I’ve only done Crook Crag once in 2004 probably tells its own story!
Best Wishes, Sean
Lovely photos. It is, indeed, probably as near as you get to ‘off-the-beaten-track’ these days. I’m guessing ‘Angus’ Rake is the grassy rake cutting diagonally through the crag.
Thank you Nigel, as you say well off the beaten track. Maybe one for a Bank Holiday too if you want somewhere away from the crowds. Yes, that is correct about Angus Rake – I have edited the description to make it a bit clearer and added in a couple of photos from the olden days! Thanks, Sean
Don’t remember Angus’ Rake, starting reading your site when Angus was undertaking lower walks but Casper was the main dog around 2008/09. Can never decide if I like Green Crag, definitely prefer Harter Fell on that side. Looking forward to seeing more of Finlay’s Wainwright round
Hi Stephen, thanks for your comments – Angus was a long time ago now! Green Crag is a funny one, as I said in another reply it is neither here nor there and the views from Harter Fell are certainly better. That said it has its own charm and if solitude is required, then that’s your fell. Keep in touch, more AW’s coming for sure. Thanks, Sean
Hi Sean,
Yes, we do remember the ‘Angus Rake’ from some of your earlier walks although we can’t remember using it ourselves. Thanks for including the photos of Angus, Dougal and Casper, it was nice of you to include them and be taken for a trip down memory lane again. We haven’t been in that area since we walked up to Green Crag on a very hot day in June 2018 using a different route to the one you and Finlay used. We’re not enthusiastic about the Birker Fell road route because, as you mentioned, it can be a boggy trudge at times. On the plus side though this area does have some great views and being ‘off the beaten track’ is usually crowd free. Thanks for a great set of ‘atmospheric’ shots and you even got some sunny spells just like we did, although our walk, on the same day, didn’t include any fells as we were easing ourselves back into walking after a two week lay-off.
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John & Brenda, thanks for your comments, it’s funny how some things stick in your mind from old walks and Angus Rake is one of those. Worth seeking out if you are top that way again, it is a neat little way up if you do it in the opposite direction to this walk. Glad you enjoyed the photos and the memories – visiting Crook Crags only once in 2004 makes me feel old! Glad you are fighting fit again and soon ready to hit the fells, I enjoyed reading about your exploits around the Kentmere Valley. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean,
We have just added this link: https://andybeckimages.co.uk/a-cracking-day-on-yoke/
to our Kentmere Valley walk as it contains some great photographs from the mining area on Rainsborrow Crag.
Andy’s walk dates back to 2015 but nothing nuch has changed in the intervening years.
Hope the link works from this reply section,
Best wishes.
John & Brenda
Great set – years since Ive been on worm crag – one for the summer I think 😀
Green Crag always looks amazing and would be frequented more I’m sure if it wasnt for the bog fest in that area.
Thanks Ian, great worm Crag would be a good summer evening walk for sunset probably. I always think Green crag is neither here nor there and a bit of an awkward one. The fact that I’ve only done Crook Crag once in 2004 probably tells its own story!
Best Wishes, Sean
Lovely photos. It is, indeed, probably as near as you get to ‘off-the-beaten-track’ these days. I’m guessing ‘Angus’ Rake is the grassy rake cutting diagonally through the crag.
Thank you Nigel, as you say well off the beaten track. Maybe one for a Bank Holiday too if you want somewhere away from the crowds. Yes, that is correct about Angus Rake – I have edited the description to make it a bit clearer and added in a couple of photos from the olden days! Thanks, Sean
Don’t remember Angus’ Rake, starting reading your site when Angus was undertaking lower walks but Casper was the main dog around 2008/09. Can never decide if I like Green Crag, definitely prefer Harter Fell on that side. Looking forward to seeing more of Finlay’s Wainwright round
Hi Stephen, thanks for your comments – Angus was a long time ago now! Green Crag is a funny one, as I said in another reply it is neither here nor there and the views from Harter Fell are certainly better. That said it has its own charm and if solitude is required, then that’s your fell. Keep in touch, more AW’s coming for sure. Thanks, Sean
Hi Sean,
Yes, we do remember the ‘Angus Rake’ from some of your earlier walks although we can’t remember using it ourselves. Thanks for including the photos of Angus, Dougal and Casper, it was nice of you to include them and be taken for a trip down memory lane again. We haven’t been in that area since we walked up to Green Crag on a very hot day in June 2018 using a different route to the one you and Finlay used. We’re not enthusiastic about the Birker Fell road route because, as you mentioned, it can be a boggy trudge at times. On the plus side though this area does have some great views and being ‘off the beaten track’ is usually crowd free. Thanks for a great set of ‘atmospheric’ shots and you even got some sunny spells just like we did, although our walk, on the same day, didn’t include any fells as we were easing ourselves back into walking after a two week lay-off.
Best wishes,
John and Brenda
Hi John & Brenda, thanks for your comments, it’s funny how some things stick in your mind from old walks and Angus Rake is one of those. Worth seeking out if you are top that way again, it is a neat little way up if you do it in the opposite direction to this walk. Glad you enjoyed the photos and the memories – visiting Crook Crags only once in 2004 makes me feel old! Glad you are fighting fit again and soon ready to hit the fells, I enjoyed reading about your exploits around the Kentmere Valley. Best Wishes, Sean
Hi Sean,
We have just added this link:
https://andybeckimages.co.uk/a-cracking-day-on-yoke/
to our Kentmere Valley walk as it contains some great photographs from the mining area on Rainsborrow Crag.
Andy’s walk dates back to 2015 but nothing nuch has changed in the intervening years.
Hope the link works from this reply section,
Best wishes.
John & Brenda