Lake District
High Gait Crags
572M
1877FT
About High Gait Crags
Tucked onto the northern shoulder of Haycock, this rugged Birkett offers a quiet, rocky vantage point above the Ennerdale valley. While often bypassed for the higher summits, its rough terrain rewards walkers with a direct, uninterrupted view across to the dramatic crags of Pillar and the sharp profile of Steeple.
Key Statistics
Rank
296th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
14.2m
Nearest Town
Eskdale
Geology
You are walking over ancient layers of volcanic ash and hardened lava. These crags were formed by explosive eruptions that deposited thick beds of rock fragments and stone.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY230057
Latitude
54.4416°N
Longitude
3.1888°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Old Norse 'gata', meaning a road or path, suggesting these rocky outcrops marked an established high-level route or sheep-run between the Wasdale and Ennerdale valleys.
- •Although overlooked by Alfred Wainwright, the summit is a featured Birkett and Synge, serving as a significant landmark on the sprawling western slopes of the Haycock massif.
- •From the summit, walkers gain a distinctive perspective of the Ennerdale fells, specifically the plunging northern face of Steeple and the distant, dark silhouette of the High Stile range across the valley.
- •The approach from the south involves crossing the headwaters of the River Bleng, an area of remote, pathless moorland that remains one of the quietest corners of the Lake District.
- •The 'crags' themselves are modest enough that, in a thick mist, you may find yourself checking the map to ensure you haven't accidentally summitted a particularly ambitious boulder instead.