Lake District Walks
Crag Fell & Grike
Date: 27th August 2006
Distance: 6.1 miles
Ascent: 2708 feet
Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
With: Lisa
Start Grid Ref: NY085153
Walk Summary:
More low cloud but still great views of Ennerdale Water on a walk visiting Crag Fell and Grike.
Route Summary: Bleach Green Cottages - Crag Farm House - Ben Gill - Crag Fell - Grike - Anglers Crag - Bleach Green Cottages.
Pictures:
1. Lisa on the lower slopes of Grike
2. Above Ben Gill
3. Lisa climbing Crag Fell
4. Ennerdale Water from Crag Fell
5. On the summit of Grike
6. Looking towards Boathow Crag and Iron Crag
7. Ennerdale
8. Ennerdale Water and Great Borne
9. Lisa and Ennerdale Water
10. Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple
Walk Detail: One of the benefits of our enforced camp in Lamplugh was that it gave us the opportunity to visit Ennerdale for the first time. As Lisa was fairly tired after the previous day’s walk I chose this walk up on to Crag Fell rather than an extended expedition to Steeple or even Starling Dodd.
It was another cloudy day with a few patches of sunshine to add colour to the views. The start of the climb was an attractive though steep path up through the plantations above Crag Farm on the northern flank of Grike. Once above the plantation the going eased to Ben Gill, an impressive ravine when seen from below though I missed the opportunity to get a better view of it from above.
The next stage of the climb was again fairly steep and Lisa did well to keep going as she was quite tired. In compensation for the hard work we did have some good views looking back to Grike and the coastal plain beyond. Unfortunately the low cloud blew over again when we reached the summit of Crag Fell.
As the wind had also picked up we took shelter in a little hollow where we had something to eat before pressing on. Lisa gamely came with me to Grike along a wet grassy path which was more reminiscent of a Pennine fell. When we reached the top of Grike the cloud came down again but despite this I was still enjoying myself and as we headed down to the mine track the top of Lank Rigg became visible for the first time and it was obvious the cloud was breaking up.
The next section was unfortunately a rather tedious and tricky descent on a steep greasy path choked with bracken that Lisa in particular disliked. The saving grace of this section was seeing the cloud lift off the tops of the surrounding fells so for the first time I got to see Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Scoat Fell and Steeple.
The return along the lakeside path was delightful if surprisingly busy as this was supposed to be one of the quieter valleys. The view down the lake from Angler’s Crag was very lovely indeed and while it may be a while before I visit these two fells again I definitely want to see more of the other Ennerdale fells.
Follow me on ...
