Great Crag from Watendlath

Joe Jackson

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This is a superb little walk with minimal ascent to get to the top of a Wainwright fell. It starts off in the picturesque hamlet of Watendlath. The very name explains what you may find here - it means 'the water at the end of the valley'. The hamlet has just a couple of houses, a tea room, some toilets and a good-sized car park. Just a stone's throw from the car park and tea rooms is the gorgeous Watendlath Tarn which can be seen from many points along this walk and its shore is the perfect place for a picnic.

The route starts by heading over the ancient pack-horse bridge which is lovely in itself. A lakeshore path is followed briefly before it heads south-west towards Great Crag. The path crosses a large bog (made dry with stepping-stones) and then a final steep push to the summit. The 360-degree panorama is spectacular from 444m above sea level with the mighty summits of Bowfell, Great Gable, Skiddaw and Pillar well seen from here. The return to Watendlath follows the same one used in the ascent, as an alternative would be more like ten miles than just three.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - North West

Features

Birds, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, National Trust, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife

4/25/2021 - Gary Davis

At waymark 5, the 'footpath diversion' sign is missing. It's important to turn left here to avoid going through the bog. The stepping stones across the bog are good for the most part. Coming down was tricky because the stones are uneven and one has to be very careful with the footing. Under no circumstances would I suggest trainers for this route, so I was surprised it was graded as an Easy Walk.