Route: Eagle Crag and Sergeant’s Crag
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 8th February 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 6.6 miles
Ascent: 1,800 feet
I parked at Stonethwaite and followed the path alongside Greenup Gill. Eagle Crag is a very imposing object on the approach. The first part of the climb up a steep grassy slope involved much turf clutching. The second part was completely different, as the summit of Eagle Crag (1,706 feet) is protected by sheer rock cliffs. There is a way through these, which involved climbing some steep gullies and crossing over exposed ledges. The task was made harder by the fact that many of the rocks were covered in sheet ice. It was a relief to reach the top. The microspikes were useful, as they have been several times this year.
From the summit it was an easy walk up to the next top Sergeant’s Crag (1,873 feet). The weather improved as the day went on and I had some fantastic views over Langstrath towards the Borrowdale fells and the Scafells. It was an easy descent down the slopes to Greenup Gill and the path leading back to Stonethwaite. Another memorable winter walk.
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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First glimpse of Eagle Crag, from Stonethwaite Beck
Part of the Cumbrian Way, leading up Stonethwaite Beck
Further along the path
Looking back towards Stonethwaite
Crossing the Beck
The route goes off to the left, before turning right up the steep grassy slope
From the start of the ascent, looking back over Borrowdale
Looking back down the steep slope, still some distance to go
At the end of the grass section, a cliff is encountered, but a gully between the rocks provides access
Heading up the gully
Looking back over Borrowdale
It’s a case of finding a route between the rocky terraced cliffs that protect most sides of Eagle Crag
Icicles on the rocks, it was very slippery around here and I needed to take extra care
Looking back down one of the gullies
The summit at last, a few small rocks on top of a slab. Borrowdale Fells in the background
The weather improved as the day went on, and there were lovely views back over Borrowdale
Looking across Langstrath to the Borrowdale Fells
Further along Langstrath, Glaramara
The summit of Sergeant’s Crag, an easy ridge walk from Eagle Crag
Borrowdale Fells again, the pointed fell is Fleetwith Pike at the head of Buttermere
Looking back to Borrowdale from Sergeant’s Crag
Summit cairn of Sergeant’s Crag
Scafell Pike can be seen in the distance
The descent to Greenup Gill was pathless but easy
The upper reaches of Greenup Gill
Further along the path, approaching the point where I left it earlier to ascend Eagle Crag
A last look back to Eagle Crag
