Crag Hill [Eel Crag]

About Crag Hill [Eel Crag]

Crag Hill is a substantial, stony summit often reached as part of the Coledale Horseshoe. It offers some of the most expansive views in the North West, looking across to the Buttermere fells and down the steep, craggy drop-off of Eel Crag into the valley below.

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Did You Know?

• •The fell’s eastern slopes above Coledale were heavily influenced by the Force Crag Mine, which operated intermittently from the 1830s until 1991, primarily extracting zinc, lead, and barytes.
• •Crag Hill serves as a major hydrological hub; its western slopes drain toward the Atlantic via the River Cocker, while the eastern side feeds into the Derwent via Coledale Beck.
• •The name Eel Crag originally referred to the entire mountain and is likely derived from the Old Norse 'el' or 'ill', suggesting a 'difficult' or 'evil' crag, though modern maps now restrict the name to the northern precipice.
• •The summit features an unusual circular stone plinth surrounding the OS trig pillar, and the high-level ridge walk connecting to Wandope is remarkably flat and grassy compared to the mountain's otherwise rugged character.
• •If you attempt the direct ascent via the scree path from Coledale Hause, prepare for a 'two steps up, one step back' routine that will leave your calves screaming and your dignity somewhere near the bottom.