Grey Crag [Sleddale Fell]

Tucked away in the quiet eastern fringes of the Lake District, this broad, grassy Wainwright offers a sense of isolation rarely found near the central fells. Rising above the head of Longsleddale, its undulating plateau is notoriously boggy but provides a peaceful, expansive perspective over the lonely Sleddale Forest and towards Harter Fell.

• •The name is purely descriptive of the rocky outcrops on its southern flanks, while the suffix 'Sleddale' derives from the Old Norse 'slétta' (level field) and 'dalr' (valley), describing the valley floor below.
• •Alfred Wainwright considered this a 'neglected' fell, suggesting its main appeal was the silence and the impressive view of the craggy face of Tarn Crag across the Longsleddale valley.
• •The summit plateau features several old boundary stones marked with 'L' and 'W', representing the historic estates of the Earl of Lonsdale (Lowther) and the Trustees of Lord Wharton.
• •From the summit cairn, the view south-west looks directly down the dramatic, steep-sided glacial trench of Longsleddale, while the higher fells of the High Street range dominate the northern horizon.
• •Traversing the plateau after a week of Cumbrian rain requires the tactical footwork of a ballet dancer and the misplaced optimism of someone who believes their 'waterproof' boots are infallible.