logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Grisedale Pike & Crag Hill fro Braithwaite

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District North Western Fells

Wainwrights - Eel Crag, Grisedale Pike, Outerside, Sail

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.5 miles / 13.8 km    Ascent - 3400 feet / 1030 metres

Time - 7 hours 40 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer OL4Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL4Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 90Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 90Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Grisedale Pike & Crag Hill fro Braithwaite
Click image to visit gallery of 5 images.

This Lake District walk is a circuit of Coledale starting with an ascent of Grisedale Pike and followed by a superb section of high level walking before reaching Crag Hill. Both peaks form part of the Grasmoor Massif with Grisedale Pike easily seen from the A66 on the approach to Keswick from Penrith. Crag Hill on the other hand is less often recognised from afar but is the second highest summit of the group being over-topped only by Grasmoor itself.

The start is in the small quarry (grid ref. NY227237) on the left hand side of the B5292 Whinlatter Pass road shortly after leaving the village of Braithwaite. Parking here is limited although other options are available in the village and further up the Whinlatter Pass road. From the quarry take the footpath that climbs northwest before turning south and then southwest alongside the forest to reach open fell. The path ahead is very obvious with erosion having caused a wide swathe across the grass. Repair work has been carried out recently and hopefully the damage will be minimised in future years.

After a level stretch the climb up the ridge of Sleet How begins. This leads directly to the summit cone of Grisedale Pike and the obligatory cairn and shelter. Continue southwest off the summit descending to a col with the head of Coledale to your left and Hobcarton Crag to your right. A further short climb brings you to a minor summit known as Hobcarton Crags from which a clear path descends to Coledale Hause.

The next objective is Crag Hill. This can be approached by using Wainwright's route through Eel Crags or rather more easily by climbing the valley path to the col between Grasmoor and Crag Hill and then turning east along a clear path to the summit with Addacomb Hole to your right. Having reached the top of Crag Hill you are able to see the complete route and it is quite satisfying to sit and contemplate the rewards for your efforts.

The next summit is Sail, which is reached after an interesting descent and reascent along a rocky ridge with excellent views to Newlands and many other points of interest in the northwestern sector Lake District. From here stay on the ridge in the direction of Causey Pike descending to a clear col before Scar Crags. Fork left to descend across the slope to reach a former mine track that leads eventually to Stoneycroft.

The preferable route is to leave the track and follow the ridge over the pleasant summit of Outerside before reaching Barrow Door (grid ref. NY222216). There are a number of paths in the immediate area so chose carefully and descend north on the path to High Coledale continuing downhill along a track. On you right is the pretty rocky gorge occupied by Barrow Gill whilst behind you lies Coledale with its horseshoe of mountains. Reaching the centre of Braithwaite village turn left on the Whinlatter Pass road to return to the start, which involves an unwelcome short steep ascent to complete the route.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1155 Causey Pikemoderate6.3 miles
Walk 2581 Lord's Seat & Barf from Whinlattermoderate8.5 miles
Walk 2041 Barf (via the Bishop) and Lords Seatmod/hard4.0 miles
Walk 2036 Cat Bells from Gutherscaleeasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 3525 Cat Bells (Route 2)easy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 3119 The Newlands Horseshoe - Catbells, Dale Head & Hindscarth mod/hard12.0 miles
Walk 3029 Derwentwater & Walla Crag from Keswickeasy/mod6.5 miles
Walk 3037 High Seat & Bleaberry Fell from Keswickmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 2321 Shores of Derwentwater from Keswick easy3.5 miles
Walk 1187 Robinson & Hindscarth from Newlandsmod/hard6.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Great Mountain Days in the Lake District

Great Mountain Days in the Lake DistrictAn inspirational guidebook to 50 challenging walks on the high fells of the Lake District. The graded circular routes, between 4 and 14 miles in length, cover classic Lakeland summits like Fairfield, Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Blencathra, to the lesser-known High Spy, King's How and Brund Fell.
More information

Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale

Walking the Lake District Fells - WasdalePart of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Wasdale, Eskdale and Ennerdale valleys, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Pillar. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.