Saturday 1 July 2000

Crinkle Crags

The unmistakable outline of Crinkle Crags
Height: 859m (2,818ft)
Prominence: 138m (452ft)
Region: Southern Fells
Classifications: Nuttall, Hewitt, Wainwright
Summit feature: Cairn
Times climbed: 6
Related trip reports:
Pike O'Blisco, Cold Pike, Crinkle Crags & Bowfell - 15/06/2019
An Eskdale Round - 06/08/2016
Bowfell, Crinkle Crags & Cold Pike - 15/08/2015
A Great Langdale Round - 07/06/2015
Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Cold Pike & Pike O'Blisco - 01/06/2013
Bowfell & Crinkle Crags - 06/10/2012
The summit of the highest crinkle, Long Top
What Wainwright said:

"Some mountains are obviously named by reference to their physical characteristics. Crinkle Crags is one of these, and it was probably first so called by the dalesfolk of the valley to the east and around the head of Windermere, whence its lofty serrated ridge, a succession of knobs and depressions, is aptly described by the name".

Wainwright lists Crinkle Crags as a 'much too good to be missed' and as a hill walker, you can see why. Five distinct peaks and depressions make up the summit ridge of which Long Top (the second peak from the south) is the highest and the true summit. The name Crinkle seems obvious and is derived from the Old English word 'cringol' meaning wrinkled.

Of note is a geological feature call 'Bad Step', found after the final peak (when walking south), a tricky 10ft scramble up or down a steep, rocky face. At first, it seems impassable but with a bit of thought, it's actually more straightforward than it seems. It can also be bypassed if necessary.

Return to Lake District – Southern Fells

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