1. The EASTERN FELLS
2. The FAR EASTERN
    FELLS
3. The CENTRAL FELLS
4. The SOUTHERN FELLS
5. The NORTHERN FELLS
6. The NORTH WESTERN
    FELLS
7. The WESTERN FELLS

The Central Fells • 2

THE FELLS IN THIS AREA: ARMBOTH FELL •  BLEA RIGG • BLEABERRY FELL • CALF CRAG • EAGLE CRAG • GIBSON KNOTT • GRANGE FELL • GREAT CRAG • HARRISON STICKLE • HELM CRAG • HIGH RAISE • HIGH RIGG • HIGH SEAT • HIGH TOVE • LOFT CRAG • LOUGHRIGG FELL • PAVEY ARK • PIKE O'STICKLE • RAVEN CRAG • SERGEANT MAN • SERGEANT'S CRAG • SILVER HOW • STEEL FELL • TARN CRAG • THUNACAR KNOTT • ULLSCARF • WALLA CRAG

GREAT CRAG
Height: 1444' (440m) (Wainwright gives a figure of 1500' approx.)
Grid reference: NY 269147

The summit of Great Crag is just one of many tops on the north west ridge which comes down from Ullscarf, an indefinite upland conveniently lumped together on the map as the Watendlath Fells. Much of this area is a joy to explore, particularly around the attractive Dock Tarn, which is situated fairly close to the summit.

Ridge routes: Ullscarf. Grange Fell 1½ miles to the north is actually easier to reach (it's a little wet in places), though Wainwright suggests no ridge route.

TOP

HARRISON STICKLE
Height: 2414', (736m)
Grid Ref: NY 282074

Harrison Stickle, the highest of the Langdale Pikes, was the first Lakeland mountain I ever climbed on a school trip in 1974. I got hooked on the mountains that day and I've returned to this particular one many times over the years. I've changed a lot since those days, but the mountain has stayed the same, (apart from one or two path 'improvements'). I think that's one of the attractions of the hills, that in a changing world they remain immutable. On my second ascent a few years later I found I'd lost my compass as I was leaving the summit. I knew exactly where I was to within a few metres, but I couldn't take a bearing. The mist was thick and there was a frost on the ground. I was eventually able to find a cairn which marked the path down to Stickle Tarn.

The summit of Harrison Stickle is at the northern end of a short rocky ridge, and there are a couple of subsidiary high points marked by cairns.

TOP

HELM CRAG
Height: 1328', (405m);  (Wainwright gives a figure of 1299'. See note below)
Grid reference: NY 326094

The true summit of Helm Crag is the hardest of all the Lakeland peaks to stand upon. Just to reach the highest point involves scrambling up a huge fang of rock, sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Lion and the Lamb. It's not too hard, but once at the top there's little room to stand. Sufferers of vertigo may find it hard to stand on (Wainwright confessed that he never got that far). Also, getting down from the rock is a little trickier than getting up it. I've climbed it a couple of times, but only stood on it when it wasn't windy.

The summit ridge continues a couple of hundred yards south east to where there is another large group of rock - these make up the true Lion and the Lamb. Older maps used this lower summit as the survey station, which gave the official height as 1299' (396m). This is the figure used by Wainwright in his Helm Crag chapter, though he realised it was not the true summit.

HIGH RAISE
Height: 2500', (762m)
Grid Ref: NY 281095

High Raise is the highest of the Central Fells. One would expect it to be much higher than the 2500' attributed to it, but in fact if one lists the highest fell from each of the Wainwright guides, then High Raise is the lowest. However, this relatively low altitude in no way impairs the views, with mountains in all directions.

The summit plateau is mainly broad and grassy, apart from an outcrop of light grey boulders which gives it the name High White Stones. These have obviously contributed to the substantial cairn which stands close to the survey column. To the south east is a small tarn, beyond which the summit of Sergeant Man can be easily reached with only 60 feet or so of reascent.

A ridge descending to the north is topped by two other satellite fells, Sergeant Crag and Eagle Crag, and together with High Raise they form the eastern flank of Langstrath. This is one of the finest valleys in the district, its upper reaches being quite remote from habitation, making it suitable for a wild camp. (Langstrath means Long Valley, as does Langdale).

Note: There is another High Raise in the Far Eastern Fells.

View south west from  from High Raise
(click here for annotated version)

HIGH RIGG
Height: 1171', (357m)
Grid Ref: NY 309220

The upland area situated between the Naddle valley and St John's in the Vale is commonly known as Naddle Fell. This name doesn't appear on the Ordnance Survey map, the most prominent name being High Rigg, which is printed close to a 343m spot height. The highest point (357m), however, is situated half a kilometre to the north. This is the summit Wainwright refers to as High Rigg, although the maps he used had the height as 1163', (the revised metric figure of 357m produces 1171').

The fell contains about a dozen small tarns, though the only tarn of any significance in the area is Tewett Tarn, situated on Low Rigg, High Rigg's neighbour to the north.

 

Next Page
Previous Page

Back to the Top

1. The EASTERN FELLS
2. The FAR EASTERN
    FELLS
3. The CENTRAL FELLS
4. The SOUTHERN FELLS
5. The NORTHERN FELLS
6. The NORTH WESTERN
    FELLS
7. The WESTERN FELLS

HOME PAGE
WILD CAMPING
LAKE DISTRICT FELLS
TRIP REPORTS
PHOTO INDEX
LINKS