Crag Fell and Grike

from the top of Crag Fell looking up the Ennerdale Valley (Red Pike is the pointy fell on the left that we will be on top of tomorrow).

I had planned an ascent of Crag Fell as Wednesday's Hardly AC run.  Wednesday wasn't great weather and it seemed as though nobody else was going to come so Jonathan and I set off from Ennerdale at about 6.30pm and thought better of going all the way to the top when we saw it covered in cloud with about an hour left of daylight.

On Saturday, after sitting in with a poorly daughter most of the day, I headed out at about 4pm to explore the area again.  I knew there was a track up through the woods and found this to be a much more direct route to the top rather than the route up the front.

got to be the best way up, but would also be a lovely way down

just as the track reaches Ben Gill, the top of Crag Fell comes into view.  The path continues up along the edge of the top ridge.  The first time I went up here, I climbed one of the gulleys.

heading along the cliff top path now

summit cairn looking over to top of Ennerdale Valley

Grike summit cairn is visible to the right.  Sellafield can be seen on the horizon to the left

Grike summit

looking back towards Crag Fell.  Nice rolling downhill to Ben Gill and the option to head back down that nice forest track.  Some snow is still visible on Pillar in the distance.

There is another nice descent from Grike, along the forest track which lies just to the south of the summit.  Head West over a fence and then follow the trod downhill where it meets up with the forest track.  From here, take nice descending tracks through Heckbarley woods to the road at Scaly Moss, turn right here and keep going right around to Ennerdale Bridge and then back to Bleach Green car park.  I've been that way quite a few times so today, I decided to explore a bit and headed back in the opposite direction to the path junction at Ben Gill and then on to explore some of the crags around Crag Fell.

looking down one of the many gulleys to Ennerdale lake

further along and Angler's Crag comes into view on the left and Crag Fell Pinnacles straight ahead

some of the gulleys looked enticingly descendable

traversing under the pinnacles

from the top of Angler's Crag now, the path back down to the car park is visible left to right.  There is also a lower path.  Nice long descent so no stopping for photos here.

Figure of eight sort of route, nice little run out.