Lake District
Yewdale Crag
321M
1053FT
About Yewdale Crag
Rising sharply above the Ambleside road, this rugged fell offers a steep, heathery ascent with immediate rewards. While modest in height, its position provides a perfect vantage point over the turquoise length of Coniston Water and the wooded Tilberthwaite valley, framed by the looming bulk of Wetherlam.
Key Statistics
Rank
737th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Southern Fells
Prominence
?
24m
Nearest Town
Little Langdale
Geology
You are trekking across a rugged foundation of volcanic ash, hardened volcanic sand, and lime-rich mudstone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SD308992
Latitude
54.3843°N
Longitude
3.0670°W
Did You Know?
- •The name stems from the Old Norse 'yr' (yew tree) and 'dalr' (valley), reflecting the historical prevalence of yews in the sheltered valley below, which were once valued for their wood in longbow production.
- •Included in Tim Synge’s 'The Lakeland Fells', the hill is often overlooked in favour of its higher neighbours, yet its eastern face presents a formidable wall of rock that dominates the view from the road into Coniston.
- •It is best climbed as part of a circuit involving Holme Fell, with the path weaving through the distinctive hummocks of Yewdale Moss to reach a summit that feels surprisingly airy.
- •The summit offers a celebrated view down the full five-mile length of Coniston Water, with the wooded slopes of Grizedale Forest to the east and the sharp silhouette of Dow Crag to the west.
- •Despite its name, you are far more likely to find yourself battling through waist-high bracken than encountering an actual yew tree on the summit.