Lake District
Rough Crag (Riggindale)
628M
2060FT
About Rough Crag (Riggindale)
Rising from the shores of Haweswater, this rugged spur forms part of the classic Riggindale ascent to High Street. The ridge path is rocky and intermittent, offering a more technical alternative to the grassy slopes typical of the Far Eastern Fells, with spectacular views into the deep, glacial trough of Riggindale.
Key Statistics
Rank
235th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Far Eastern Fells
Prominence
?
34m
Nearest Town
Shap Rural
Geology
You are walking across ancient layers of hardened volcanic ash and stony fragments, created by the powerful eruptions that shaped this rugged ridge.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY454112
Latitude
54.4936°N
Longitude
2.8441°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Riggindale derives from the Old Norse 'hryggr', meaning a back or ridge, and 'dalr' for valley; it perfectly describes the narrow, spine-like character of the terrain.
- •Alfred Wainwright considered the ascent over Rough Crag to be the finest route onto High Street, praising its continuous interest and the dramatic perspective it offers of the surrounding eastern fells.
- •The crags below the summit were historically famous as the last nesting site for Golden Eagles in England; a solitary male occupied this territory for many years until he disappeared in 2016.
- •Just beyond the summit lies Caspel Gate, a high mountain pass featuring a tiny tarn that provides a striking foreground for views looking back towards the Pennines and the North Pennines AONB.
- •While officially classified as a Hewitt and Nuttall in its own right, some topographical purists dismiss it as merely a shoulder of High Street, a debate that usually ends once they experience the quality of the ridge walk.