Lake District
Red Crag
711M
2333FT
About Red Crag
Standing on the high ridge between High Raise and The Knott, this broad, grassy summit offers a sense of vastness typical of the Far Eastern Fells. While the top is relatively flat, its eastern slopes drop steeply into Rampsgill, providing a sharp contrast to the gentle approach from the west.
Key Statistics
Rank
147th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
11m
Nearest Town
Martindale
Geology
Red Crag is built from layers of compressed volcanic ash and stony fragments. These slopes were formed by ancient eruptions and volcanic debris reshaped by water.
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY450151
Latitude
54.5287°N
Longitude
2.8509°W
Did You Know?
- •The name stems from the Old Norse 'rauðr' and the Middle English 'crag', likely referencing the iron-tinted rocks or the deep hue of the bracken on the eastern face during autumn.
- •From the summit, you gain a classic perspective into the head of Rampsgill, a remote valley where red deer from the ancient Martindale herd are frequently seen grazing on the lower slopes.
- •It serves as a key waypoint on the high-level circuit from Hartsop, positioned as a distinct shoulder between the Roman road on High Street and the northern fells of Martindale.
- •While often overlooked in favour of its higher neighbours, it was classified as a separate summit by Bill Birkett, who valued its position overlooking the steep, glacial troughs to the east.
- •Navigating the plateau in a whiteout requires care; it is essentially a very large, very high, and often very damp lawn where the only indication you have reached the summit is the ground beginning to fall away.