Brock Crag

Rising above the eastern shores of Grasmere, this craggy outcrop offers an intimate perspective on the Vale of Grasmere. Often overlooked in favour of the Fairfield Horseshoe, its summit provides a quiet vantage point to watch the clouds drift over Helm Crag and the distant Coniston Fells.

• •The name is derived from the Old English 'brocc', a word for a badger. This suggests the crag's complex rocky terraces and scree slopes were historically known as a significant habitat for badger setts.
• •The fell is a designated Synge, part of a classification by Tim Synge that highlights summits for their individual character and topographical merit rather than simply their elevation.
• •It is situated directly above Alcock Tarn, a man-made waterbody created in the 19th century by J.E. Alcock, who enlarged a natural pool to create a private trout pond.
• •From the summit, the view west provides one of the best angles on the Langdale Pikes, with the serrated tops of Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle clearly silhouetted against the higher skyline.
• •Its name is shared with a much higher fell near Hartsop; bagging this one instead is a highly time-efficient way to claim the name on a peak-bagging list, provided you don't mind the confusing looks from more ambitious walkers.