Castle Crag

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Route: Grange, Gowder Dub, Broadslack Gill, Castle Crag

Date: 06/09/2014
From: Grange

Parking: Grange church
Start Point: Grange church
Region: North Western Fells
Route length: 2.7 miles (4.3km)
Time taken: 01:30
Average speed: 1.7 mph
Ascent: 201m
Descent: 202m

Wainwrights on this walk:
Castle Crag (290m)

Additional summits: None

Other points of interest: High Hows Quarry

Having had a quick stop at Raven Crag, we required a longer drive this time, around to the opposing valley of Borrowdale to tackle the mighty Castle Crag (definitely a different one to the one I've already mentioned). I say mighty with tongue firmly in cheek - Castle Crag is the smallest fell in Wainwright's books, so small in fact that it doesn't even qualify as a Birkett (hard to believe given the nature of some of them) - it's just not high enough.

Castle Crag is a subsidiary outcrop of High Spy, Wainwright choosing to include a separate chapter thanks to its impressive independence from its parent fell. Indeed, it has all the characteristics of a mountain, portrayed in miniature.

The sharp peak of Castle Crag

We left the car, this time by the small church in Grange, and followed the Cumbria Way along the lanes of Holmcrag Wood to Gowder Dub, a picturesque bend in the River Derwent beneath the slopes of Castle Crag. It's an area known as 'The Jaws of Borrowdale', a narrowing of the valley as it's squeezed between the surrounding fells.

King's How

Gowder Dub

Here, a bridleway bound for Honister leaves the Cumbria Way and makes its way up Broadslack Gill, a small stream falling from the slopes of Low Scawdel. We followed said path until it reaches a small footbridge where we branched off. Castle Crag, despite its diminutive height, is still an imposing sight and the summit is still a fair climb away.

The bridleway alongside Broadslack Gill

Castle Crag

Castle Crag

Broadslack Gill and the steep sides of Castle Crag

After leaving the bridleway a small path starts the steep climb up Castle Crag. A small memorial is visible part way up so we wandered over for a quick look.

Memorial to William Hamer

Returning to the climb, the path begins a zig-zag up a loose slate pile, the result of years of slate quarrying on the fell. Close to the summit is High Hows Quarry, an obvious yet impressive scar, surrounded by a series of curiously placed, upright slates. It seems that it's the tradition but no one seems to know why or when it started. It's certainly different, and quite a surprise for the first time. Above High Hows stands the summit. And what a summit.

High Spy across the valley

The path along the slate

The path into High Hows Quarry

Curious upright slates

Summit outcrop

Despite its height, Castle Crag has extensive views to the north and to the south, as if you had been suspended high above Borrowdale. To the north is Derwentwater framing Skiddaw and to the south is the entire Scafell range, basking in the evening light. There are much higher fells that simply cannot compete with this one - it's obvious why Wainwright included it as a separate chapter.

Rosthwaite Fell

Great Crag, Ullscarf, High Raise, Eagle Crag, Rosthwaite Fell, Glaramara, Great End and Scafell Pike - some panorama

Borrowdale and Skiddaw

Great End, Broad Crag and Scafell Pike

The summit proper is a large rock, complete with a large plaque commemorating the men of Borrowdale lost in the Great War. The plaque reads:

The war memorial on the summit

I was totally taken with this little fell and it was with a great reluctance that we bade farewell to retrace our path back to Grange. It was getting dark by the time we reached the car but it had been a tremendously rewarding afternoon out. Castle Crag is the best of the bunch but these small fells go to show that you can really experience what Lakeland has to offer without having to climb peaks like Helvellyn or Scafell Pike. These are fells that you can share with friends and family and for that reason, I will undoubtedly be returning soon with friends and/or family in tow.

Evening sky over Derwentwater

Moon over Ullscarf

The route back down....