The impressive face of Bannerdale Crags
Bannerdale Crags
Forming an expansive ridge that travels from northwest to southeast, Bannerdale Crags is an area of immense scenic attraction. While old maps originally applied the name solely to the sheer, dark precipices slicing down its northeastern flank, the title now encompasses the entire fell. This steep side plunges directly into the lonely valley of Bannerdale Beck, a remote tributary to the River Glenderamackin.
The rocky northeastern wall forms an almost unbroken, mile-long escarpment, with its highest precipices plunging nearly 200 meters down to the valley floor. For scramblers and walkers looking to breach this defensive barrier directly, a substantial spur protrudes from the center of the cliff face right beneath the summit, offering a phenomenal, direct line of ascent that unlocks the high plateau.
The smooth, grassy summit looking across toward Blencathra
In stark contrast to the dramatic void of its cliffs, the actual summit plateau is a beautifully smooth and level grassy lawn. The true high point sits comfortably back from the edge, marked by a simple, low cairn of flat slate rocks. Venturing closer to the rim reveals a secondary cairn, identified on historical large-scale maps as a "currick"—a traditional mountain shelter built by local shepherds out of the surrounding stone. Despite the smooth nature of the top, the panoramic view is surprisingly vast and extensive.
No comments :
Post a Comment