Lake District
Birk Crag
357M
1171FT
About Birk Crag
Tucked away on the eastern slopes of the central ridge above Thirlmere, this minor summit offers a rugged, rocky contrast to the often boggy ground of its parent fell, High Tove. At 357 metres, it provides a superb, intimate vantage point over the forest-lined reservoir and across to the Helvellyn range.
Key Statistics
Rank
674th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
13
Nearest Town
St. John's Castlerigg and Wythburn
Geology
Birk Crag is made of hardened volcanic ash and debris. These rocks formed from layers of volcanic mud and fragments that settled over time.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY315134
Latitude
54.5118°N
Longitude
3.0591°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Birk' is derived from the Old Norse björk, a Northern English dialect word for birch trees, which likely once colonised these craggy slopes more densely than they do today.
- •Though it is a modest height, its position on the edge of the Armboth Fell plateau makes it an exceptional viewpoint for looking directly across the valley to the massive western face of Helvellyn and the screes of Browncove Crags.
- •The summit is classified as a Synge, one of the tops identified by Tim Synge in his comprehensive guide to the Lake District fells, often used by peak-baggers looking for quieter alternatives to the main Wainwrights.
- •Ascents are usually made from the western shore of Thirlmere via the steep, pathless slopes of Armboth, a route that offers a sense of isolation and wilderness rarely found so close to a main road.
- •Navigating the ground between Birk Crag and the main ridge provides a stern test for your waterproofs, as the solid rock of the summit is surrounded by some of the most persistent peat hags in the Central Fells.