Route: Great Crag
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 29th August 2020
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1,400 feet
Weather: Cloudy and overcast, brightening a little later on
Great Crag is a mid-level lakeland fell which we visited this time last year, when it was covered with a coat of purple heather. Hoping for more of the same, we decided to rewalk the route
We made an early start as it was a bank holiday weekend. We parked just outside the small hamlet of Stonethwaite. We crossed the nearby beck via Stonethwaite Bridge, turning right immediately to join the Cumbria Way for a short distance. We then left the Cumbria Way to join a path heading uphill which followed the course of Willygrass Gill. It was a steep climb, but the addition of rock steps made the ascent a straightforward affair and before long we arrived at Dock Tarn
The tarn is surrounded by numerous mounds and tors, all covered with heather, and it’s a lovely sight. As Wainwright says, ‘Dock Tarn is a place to lie adreaming, and life seems a sweet sweet thing’. Great Crag is a complicated place, full of ups and downs, and determining the summit and the path to it is not a simple affair. There are numerous small paths, some of which peter out. We simply aimed for the highest point and, after some meandering, arrived there. Another top with a slightly larger cairn was nearby, so we visited that too. Both are wonderful spots. It’s a shame that the weather was poor today compared with our last visit – dull overcast skies failed to bring out the colour of the heather, which in any event was starting to go over
We then rejoined the main path below and descended towards Watendlath. In view of the uninspiring weather we decided to omit this remote hamlet from our route, and we took a shortcut across some wild and very juicy terrain leading to Puddingstone Bank. The path descended alongside Bowdergate Gill, with wonderful views into Borrowdale, before merging with the Cumbria Way lower down. Improving weather on this section added to the beauty of the scenery. From here it was a short stroll beside Stonethwaite Beck back into Stonethwaite, and the end of a superb walk
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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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The small hamlet of Stonethwaite at the start of today's walk
We cross Stonethwaite Beck via Stonethwaite Bridge and turn right beyond it to follow the Cumbria Way for a few yards
We leave the Cumbria Way at this sheepfold to start the climb up the fellside
Looking back to Stonethwaite
Eagle Crag and Heron Crag
Rosthwaite
The heather is still flowering well on the lower slopes - here looking towards Greenup Gill
Above the tree line now as we look back over Borrowdale, with the Honister Pass and Fleetwith Pike in the distance
We pass by another old sheepfold
Looking back into Langstrath
On open fellside now, as we head to Dock Tarn
Willygrass Gill, which had accompanied us for much of the ascent
Dock Tarn, but by now the weather had become dull and overcast and didn't show it at its best
We didn't linger at the tarn and made our way across the fell to the summit area
Looking back to Dock Tarn, with Ullscarf in the distance
Summit of Great Crag, looking over Borrowdale...
...and now looking over Watendlath and its tarn
Borrowdale on our left as we start the descent
Watendlath below - the walk may be extended to visit this small hamlet
Looking back to Great Crag after crossing some bleak and juicy terrain
The start of a heavenly descent into Borrowdale...
Rosthwaite below
We join the Cumbria Way and will follow it as far as Stonethwaite Bridge
Looking back
Eagle Crag dominates the scene as we approach Stonethwaite...
We arrive at Stonethwaite Bridge and re-cross it
Stonethwaite, and the end of a wonderful walk
