High Crag

About High Crag

Rising above the gritstone edges of Wharfedale, this modest summit overlooks the historic lead-mining landscapes of Grassington Moor. The approach through heather and weathered rock leads to a quiet plateau with excellent views of Simon’s Seat and the Barden fells, offering a rugged, wind-swept escape from the busier valley trails below.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Crag' stems from the Celtic creag, used throughout northern England to denote a prominent rocky outcrop or cliff. Here, it refers to the weathered gritstone edges that define the western fringe of the moorland plateau.
• •The hill sits within one of the most significant historical mining districts in the Yorkshire Dales; the surrounding moors are pockmarked with old shafts, spoil heaps, and 'hushings' from the 18th and 19th-century lead industry.
• •Looking south across the Wharfe valley, the view is dominated by the dark, heather-clad silhouette of Barden Moor and the distinctive rocky gritstone outcrops of Simon’s Seat.
• •It is classified as a Tump, a designation for hills with at least 30 metres of prominence, marking it as a distinct high point amidst the rolling, peat-covered expanse of the Southern Fells.
• •The ground here is so riddled with historical mine workings that any attempt at a 'shortcut' across the heather is less an act of exploration and more a test of your ankles and your insurance policy.