Lake District
Birker Fell - Great Crag
333M
1093FT
About Birker Fell - Great Crag
Rising above the southern side of Eskdale, this rugged outcrop offers a wild, pathless feel despite its modest height. Located on the undulating plateau of Birker Fell, it provides a superb, low-level vantage point for the Scafell range, looking across the deep trench of the valley towards the high fells.
Key Statistics
Rank
713th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
21m
Nearest Town
Boot
Geology
You are walking across a landscape of ancient lava flows and hardened volcanic ash. These volcanic rocks form the rugged foundation of the fell beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
Latitude
54.3693°N
Longitude
3.2538°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Birker' is likely derived from the Old Norse words 'birki' (birch) and 'erg' (a summer pasture or shieling), suggesting this high ground was used for seasonal grazing by Viking-age settlers.
- •Included in Bill Birkett’s 'Complete Lakeland Fells,' this 333m top is one of many rocky knots on the vast, often waterlogged plateau that separates Eskdale from the Duddon Valley.
- •The summit offers a spectacular, unobstructed view across Eskdale to the Scafell massif; from here, the Great Terrace and the dark cliffs of Scafell Crag appear in imposing detail.
- •The fell is bordered to the north by a historic 'corpse road'—an ancient track once used to transport the deceased from the upper reaches of the valley for burial at St Catherine’s Church in Boot.
- •While named 'Great Crag,' the summit is arguably less of a mountain peak and more of a victory for anyone who manages to cross the surrounding Birker Fell peat hags without soaking their boots.