Lake District
High Crag (Buttermere)
745M
2443FT
About High Crag (Buttermere)
High Crag marks the dramatic eastern end of the Buttermere ridge. It’s best known for the grueling scree descent of Gamlin End towards Haystacks. The rocky summit offers a bird's-eye view over Buttermere and the remote, forested floor of the Ennerdale valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
113th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Western Fells
Prominence
?
34.8
Nearest Town
Ennerdale and Kinniside
Geology
You’re walking on ancient volcanic rocks: mainly andesite, volcanic ash layers with small lava fragments, and sandstone formed from volcanic debris.
Find It
Latitude
54.5146°N
Longitude
3.2674°W
Did You Know?
- •The fell is primarily composed of the Birker Fell Andesite Formation, a product of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group that creates the rugged, fractured rock scenery typical of the Western Fells.
- •The name is derived from the Middle English 'crag', which has Celtic roots, specifically referring to the precipitous northern face that drops nearly 400 metres toward the valley floor.
- •The steep northern cliffs feature the 'Crag of the Bird', a notable site for traditional rock climbing that offers several multi-pitch routes including the classic 'Girdle Traverse'.
- •High Crag acts as a significant weather break; it is often the first peak to catch the heavy Atlantic rains coming in from the coast, resulting in much higher precipitation levels than the Eastern Fells.
- •Descending the scree slope of Gamlin End is essentially a vertical marathon in a giant sandbox; you'll likely spend more time emptying the Lake District's geology out of your boots than you did actually walking down it.