Buck Crag

About Buck Crag

Rising above the village of Hartsop in the Far Eastern Fells, this rugged summit offers a wilder perspective on the popular path to Angle Tarn. Its terrain is characterized by craggy outcrops and boggy depressions, providing a quiet, Synge-classified alternative to the more frequented Wainwright tops found nearby.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely refers to the male red deer of the Martindale deer forest; the Martindale herd is the oldest native red deer population in England and can often be spotted on the surrounding slopes.
• •While the more famous Brock Crags nearby takes its name from the Old English 'brocc' for badger, Buck Crag sits as a distinct high point on the same sprawling, undulating plateau.
• •The hill is specifically identified in Tim Synge’s 'The Lakeland Fells', a guide that prioritises the actual highest points of the moorland rather than the more subjective summit choices of Alfred Wainwright.
• •From the summit area, the view west is dominated by the sprawling Helvellyn range across the Patterdale valley, while looking north-east reveals the deep, secluded trench of Rampsgill.
• •The summit is a short detour from the main path connecting Hartsop to the island-studded Angle Tarn, which is widely considered one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the District.
• •The 'crag' part of the name is somewhat optimistic for the summit itself; while the western flanks are steep and rocky, the top is a masterclass in Lakeland peat hags and hidden bogs.