Gale Crag

About Gale Crag

Rising above the village of Patterdale, this rugged Birkett serves as a rocky shoulder on the long ridge of Hartsop Above How. It offers a quieter, lower-level alternative to the high fells, providing an intimate look into the glacial troughs of Deepdale and Dovedale.

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Did You Know?

• •The name likely stems from the Old Norse 'geil', meaning a narrow ravine or passage, though local dialect also uses 'gale' to refer to bog myrtle, a shrub common in the damp soils of the Eastern Fells.
• •While omitted from Alfred Wainwright’s central guides, Gale Crag was formalised as a summit by Bill Birkett and later by Tim Synge, who both recognised it as a distinct top on the approach to the Fairfield group.
• •The summit offers a spectacular, unshielded view of the craggy eastern face of Saint Sunday Crag and the steep, scree-covered slopes of Cawkhowe High Pike across the valley.
• •Most walkers pass the summit unknowingly while following the ancient drystone wall that acts as a navigational handrail along the Hartsop Above How ridge.
• •It is a premier location for watching the sunset over the Helvellyn range without the long, dark descent associated with the higher summits.
• •The crag provides a grandstand view of the 'Fairfield Horseshoe' crowds from a safe distance, allowing you to enjoy the silence while others negotiate the traffic on the main peaks.