Helm Crag - Calf Crag - Steel Fell

This is a great walk from Grasmere that summits four Wainwright fells close to the village. It starts off at the lay-by just on the outskirts of the village (free parking) and follows footpath and very quiet country lanes north towards Helmside and to the base of Helm Crag. It ascends a zigzag path on the north face of the fell to Bracken Hause and then to the summit of Helm Crag. The summit of the fell is an amazing place with the peak jutting into the sky and standing about 25ft above the rest of the top and is listed as one of Wainwright's top six summits. It's a Grade 1 scramble to get to the true top of Helm Crag, within the capabilities of most walkers, so give it a try but take it easy! The top offers spectacular and dramatic views down to Dunmail Raise and over to the higher peaks of Fairfield and Seat Sandal.

From Helm Crag the route descends back to Bracken Hause and then follows the ridge west over the summit of Gibson Knott to Calf Crag (the highest summit along the ridge). The views down Easedale far below from here are fantastic. After crossing slightly boggy areas around the head of Greenburn, the route makes its way to the 553m summit of Dead Pike, also known as Steel Fell and the last Wainwright of the day. The views are slightly restricted thanks to higher fells on both sides but the view north is great – even better if you take a half-mile detour north to the edge of the plateau! The descent follows the a path along Cotra Breast back down to Helmside and then back to the lay-by.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - South East

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Walk id: 7064

Walk grade

Strenuous

Length

8.7 Miles

Height gain

600 Metres

Duration

4 Hours 30 Mins

Average rating

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