Hart Crag
Encyclopedia
Hart Crag is a fell
in the English
Lake District
, being one of the Fairfield
group of hills in the Eastern Fells
.
, at the point where a long subsidiary spur sweeps off to the north east. This is Hartsop above How
and, although in reality part of Hart Crag, was treated as a separate fell by Alfred Wainwright
in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells
. That convention is also followed here.
Being at the meeting point of three ridges, Hart Crag also has a share in three valleys. Despite forming a part of the headwall in each case, the fell is not the true head of any of them. West of the summit runs the long and unfrequented valley of Rydal Beck. This flows almost due south for 3 miles, finally emptying into the River Rothay at Rydal village. The slopes of Rydal Head below Hart Crag are steep, but reasonably free of outcropping rock.
To the north of Hart Crag is Link Cove. This is a hanging valley, discharging via waterfalls into upper Deepdale. Deepdale Beck in turn runs north east to join other streams bound for Ullswater
. The main faces of Hart Crag lie on this side, presenting a fine prospect from St Sunday Crag
and other fells to the north. Dovedale is the third valley, running broadly eastward and separated from Deepdale by the Hartsop Above How ridge. Immediately below Hart Crag is Houndshope Cove, a high level corrie
in upper Dovedale.
The ridge to Fairfield starts north westward as far as the saddle of Link Hause (2,450 ft). This is the geographical link between Rydale and Link Cove, but there is no practicable walkers' route from one to the other. Beyond here the ridge mounts a rocky step (the end of Srubby Crag) and then turns westward onto the widening grassy top of Fairfield.
Dove Crag to the south east is reached across the unnamed col between Houndshope Cove and Rydale. A stone wall runs along the majority of the ridge, providing an aid to route-finding in poor conditions. The Hartsop Above How ridge starts indistinctly from the summit of Hart Crag, a descent across a wide area of rough ground being made before a discernible ridgeline materialises.
s mark the ends of a short ridge running along the top, with other cairns giving guidance to the viewpoints for Deepdale and Dovedale. The highest point is at the south eastern end of the summit area, a little to the west of the main path. The view is good westward to the Scafells
and also toward the Far Eastern Fells
, but Fairfield and Dove Crag obscure much of the District.
. This popular fellwalk makes a circuit of Rydale, claiming 8 Wainwrights over a distance of 10 miles. Starting at Bridgend, Hartsop Above How provides another means of indirect access.
A number of direct ascents are also possible. Rydale can be followed to its head from where the steep climb out of the valley leads to the summit. Alternatively an approach can be made along Deepdale, skirting the worst of the bogs, and climbing onto the Hartsop Above How ridge from the lower part of Link Cove. Dovedale and Houndshope Cove provide a third possibility.
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
, being one of the Fairfield
Fairfield (Lake District)
Fairfield is a fell in the English Lake District. It is the highest of a group of hills in the Eastern Fells, standing to the south of the Helvellyn range.-Topography:...
group of hills in the Eastern Fells
Eastern Fells
The Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Centred on Helvellyn they primarily comprise a north south ridge running between Ullswater and Lakeland's Central Valley.-Partition of the Lakeland Fells:...
.
Topography
The fell stands on the ridge running south east from Fairfield to Dove CragDove Crag
Dove Crag is a fell in the English Lake District. Situated in the Eastern Fells of the national park, seven kilometres south-south-west of Glenridding, it reaches a height of 792 metres...
, at the point where a long subsidiary spur sweeps off to the north east. This is Hartsop above How
Hartsop above How
Hartsop above How is a fell in the English Lake District, an outlier of the Helvellyn range in the Eastern Fells. It stands above Brothers Water and the Ullswater to Ambleside road.-Topography:...
and, although in reality part of Hart Crag, was treated as a separate fell by Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright
Alfred Wainwright MBE was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966 and consisting entirely of reproductions of his manuscript, has become the standard reference work to 214 of the fells of the...
in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells
Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells
A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells is a series of seven books by A. Wainwright, detailing the fells of the Lake District in northwest England...
. That convention is also followed here.
Being at the meeting point of three ridges, Hart Crag also has a share in three valleys. Despite forming a part of the headwall in each case, the fell is not the true head of any of them. West of the summit runs the long and unfrequented valley of Rydal Beck. This flows almost due south for 3 miles, finally emptying into the River Rothay at Rydal village. The slopes of Rydal Head below Hart Crag are steep, but reasonably free of outcropping rock.
To the north of Hart Crag is Link Cove. This is a hanging valley, discharging via waterfalls into upper Deepdale. Deepdale Beck in turn runs north east to join other streams bound for Ullswater
Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles long and 0.75 miles wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than ....
. The main faces of Hart Crag lie on this side, presenting a fine prospect from St Sunday Crag
St Sunday Crag
St Sunday Crag is a fell in the English Lake District, part of the Fairfield group in the Eastern Fells. It is a prominent feature in the Patterdale skyline, with a distinctive rounded shape...
and other fells to the north. Dovedale is the third valley, running broadly eastward and separated from Deepdale by the Hartsop Above How ridge. Immediately below Hart Crag is Houndshope Cove, a high level corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
in upper Dovedale.
The ridge to Fairfield starts north westward as far as the saddle of Link Hause (2,450 ft). This is the geographical link between Rydale and Link Cove, but there is no practicable walkers' route from one to the other. Beyond here the ridge mounts a rocky step (the end of Srubby Crag) and then turns westward onto the widening grassy top of Fairfield.
Dove Crag to the south east is reached across the unnamed col between Houndshope Cove and Rydale. A stone wall runs along the majority of the ridge, providing an aid to route-finding in poor conditions. The Hartsop Above How ridge starts indistinctly from the summit of Hart Crag, a descent across a wide area of rough ground being made before a discernible ridgeline materialises.
Summit and view
The summit of Hart Crag has a covering of rock with rich turf showing through. Two cairnCairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
s mark the ends of a short ridge running along the top, with other cairns giving guidance to the viewpoints for Deepdale and Dovedale. The highest point is at the south eastern end of the summit area, a little to the west of the main path. The view is good westward to the Scafells
Scafells
Image:Annotated Scafell range.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Scafell range as seen looking west from Crinkle Crags. rect 23 372 252 419 Slight Side rect 173 794 560 834 Scafell East Buttress...
and also toward the Far Eastern Fells
Far Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells are a group of hills in the English Lake District. Reaching their highest point at High Street they occupy a broad area to the east of Ullswater and Kirkstone Pass. Much quieter than the central areas of Lakeland they offer in general easier but less exciting walking as the...
, but Fairfield and Dove Crag obscure much of the District.
Ascents
Hart Crag is most commonly climbed as part of the Fairfield horseshoeFairfield horseshoe
Fairfield Horseshoe is a classic circular hillwalking ridge walk route starting from Rydal or Ambleside in the English Lake District that takes in all the fells that surround the valley of the Rydal Beck....
. This popular fellwalk makes a circuit of Rydale, claiming 8 Wainwrights over a distance of 10 miles. Starting at Bridgend, Hartsop Above How provides another means of indirect access.
A number of direct ascents are also possible. Rydale can be followed to its head from where the steep climb out of the valley leads to the summit. Alternatively an approach can be made along Deepdale, skirting the worst of the bogs, and climbing onto the Hartsop Above How ridge from the lower part of Link Cove. Dovedale and Houndshope Cove provide a third possibility.