Little Gowder Crag

Little Gowder Crag is a rugged rocky top sitting on the high ridge between Haycock and Scoat Fell. While often overlooked for its larger neighbors, it offers a dramatic viewpoint over Ennerdale and provides some interesting rocky terrain on an otherwise grassy high-level traverse.

• •It sits on the high-level ridge forming the watershed between Wasdale and Ennerdale, serving as a key waypoint on the classic Ennerdale Horseshoe route.
• •Standing at 734.5 metres, it is a prominent Birkett top that offers a much-needed navigational landmark during the high-level traverse between Haycock and Scoat Fell.
• •The northern slopes fall away sharply into the glacial bowl of Silver Cove, contrasting with the more gradual grassy slopes found on the southern Wasdale side.
• •The name 'Gowder' likely derives from the Old Norse 'gaukr', meaning cuckoo, indicating the historical presence of the bird in these remote western valleys.
• •This fell is the ultimate 'bonus top' for Birkett baggers, though your legs might not thank you for the rocky detour when the steep pull to Haycock is still looming ahead.