Lake District
Arnison Crag
433M
1420FT
About Arnison Crag
Arnison Crag is a modest but rewarding climb starting right from Patterdale. It offers one of the best perspectives of Ullswater without the heavy crowds of Helvellyn. The path is generally clear, leading through bracken and rocky outcrops to a surprisingly rugged summit.
Key Statistics
Rank
535th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
31m
Nearest Town
Glenridding
Geology
Arnison Crag sits on ancient volcanic rocks. Hard andesite sills, volcanic sand and ash layers, and smooth dacite are remnants of old eruptions.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.5264°N
Longitude
2.9385°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Norse name 'Arni' plus 'son', reflecting the area's Viking heritage before it became established as a local surname.
- •Although relatively low at 433m, the fell serves as the scenic gateway to the Fairfield range, forming the first high point on the long ridge leading towards St Sunday Crag.
- •The summit area consists of several rocky knolls, with the highest point featuring a modest cairn perched on a natural rock slab that provides a direct line of sight down the length of Ullswater.
- •The eastern slopes drop steeply toward Patterdale Hall, the historic home of the Mounsey family, who were known as the 'Kings of Patterdale' after a 17th-century ancestor famously repelled a group of Scottish raiders at Stybarrow Crag.
- •It is the ultimate 'low-guilt' fell; high enough to convince yourself you've done a proper hike, yet close enough to the Patterdale Hotel that you are never more than a short stroll away from a celebratory pint.