Raven Crag (Barton Fell)

About Raven Crag (Barton Fell)

Perched precariously over Ullswater, this craggy outcrop on Barton Fell is the ideal spot for hikers who enjoy dramatic vistas but prefer their mountains to have the creative naming conventions of a suburban cul-de-sac. It’s essentially a very scenic balcony for judgmental sheep.

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Did You Know?

• •It forms a rugged architectural shoulder of the Barton Fell plateau. This position provides one of the most celebrated viewpoints for surveying the 'Queen of the Lakes', Ullswater, as it curves toward Pooley Bridge.
• •The fell lies just west of the High Street Roman Road, where the 20th Legion once marched. They presumably complained about the Cumbrian weather and the vertical terrain just as much as modern hikers do today.
• •The name is one of at least half a dozen 'Raven Crags' in the Lake District. It suggests that historic local shepherds were far more talented at sheep-dog trials than they were at creative branding.
• •Scaling the steep slopes from the lakeside will turn your leg muscles into overstretched piano wire. This agonizing sensation is only slightly relieved by the judgmental silence of the local Herdwick sheep watching your struggle.
• •The fell stands at exactly 2,008 feet, the same year Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition and 'Keep on the Shadowfell' were released. Do not be surprised if you find a Beholder hiding in the mist, though it is usually just a very confused, damp tup.