Bannisdale Fell - Long Crag

Tucked away in the quiet backcountry between the A6 and Longsleddale, this grassy Wainwright Outlying Fell offers a peaceful alternative to the busy central peaks. The summit at Long Crag provides a fine vantage point over the secluded Bannisdale valley, looking across to the distinctive, velvet-like folds of the Howgill Fells.

• •The name Bannisdale likely originates from the Old Norse personal name 'Bandi' combined with 'dalr', meaning Bandi's valley. Long Crag refers specifically to the modest rocky escarpment that forms the fell's highest point.
• •Alfred Wainwright included this summit in his 'Outlying Fells' guide, praising the surrounding valley as a beautiful and lonely place that has seen very little change over the centuries.
• •The hill is the focal point of the Bannisdale Horseshoe, a quiet ten-mile ridge walk that remains one of the most secluded circuits in the Lake District, often bypassed by walkers heading for the higher Kentmere range.
• •From the summit, there is a clear and direct view west across Longsleddale to the steep, craggy eastern flanks of Shipman Knotts and Kentmere Pike.
• •The ground between Long Crag and its northern neighbours is famously peat-heavy; in a wet season, it provides a very effective lesson in why the local dialect has so many different words for a bog.