High Crag (Buttermere)
744m (2442ft)
The Western Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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*Walk & bag all 33 Wainwrights in The Western Fells area of The Lake District in just 10 easy-to-follow circular walks.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 7.5ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,338ft (1,017m) |
| Time: | 6.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Sourmilk Gill - Bleaberry Tarn - Dodd (Buttermere) - The Saddle - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Gamlin End - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Peggy's Bridge - Burtness Wood - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.75ml (14km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,390ft (1,033m) |
| Time: | 6.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Scale Force - Scale Beck - Blea Crag - Lingcomb Edge - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Gamlin End - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Burtness Wood - Sourmilk Gill - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 11.25ml (18km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,132ft (1,259m) |
| Time: | 8.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Scale Force - Scale Beck - Blea Crag - Lingcomb Edge - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Gamlin End - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Warnscale Beck - Warnscale Bottom - Gatesgarth - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 16ml (25.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 6,285ft (1,915m) |
| Time: | 12.25hrs |
| Grade: |  (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Buttermere - Scale Force - Scale Beck - Blea Crag - Great Borne - Starling Dodd - Little Dodd (Ennerdale) - Ling Comb - Lingcomb Edge - Red Pike (Buttermere) - Dodd (Buttermere) - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Gamlin End - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Warnscale Beck - Dubs Hut - Dubs Quarry - Fleetwith Pike - Honister Crag (Black Star) - Fleetwith Pike - Fleetwith Edge - Gatesgarth - Buttermere
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 18.75ml (30km) |
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| Ascent: | 7,309ft (2,408m) |
| Time: | 14.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Very Hard) |
Route Summary:
Bowness Knott Car Park Ennerdale - Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre - High Gillerthwaite Yourth Hostel - Red Pike (Buttermere) - High Stile - High Crag (Buttermere) - Seat (Buttermere) - Scarth Gap - Hay Stacks (Haystacks) - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Black Beck - Green Crag (Buttermere) - Great Round How - Brandreth - Gillercomb Head - Green Gable - Windy Gap - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Beck Head - Beckhead Tarn - Kirk Fell (East Top) - Kirk Fell - Black Sail Pass - Looking Stead (Pillar) - High Level Route - Robinson's Cairn - Pillar - Wind Gap - Black Crag (Pillar) - High Beck - Low Beck - Ennerdale.
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged High Crag (Buttermere)
Richard Fulcher walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on March 25th, 2025 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Jen [weather] Started off with cloud over the tops but cleared around lunchtime. Not much wind but cold gusts every now & then .. generally cold with sunshine. - This was part of a ridge walk taking in Red Pike, High Stile & High Crag. Tough ascents & descents due to steepness & scree.
James Hughes climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on June 3rd, 2024 [from/via/route] c207 The High Stile from Buttermere [with] Sara [weather] Misty & wet at times. Poor visibility on tops. - Amazing walk - met three men on Red Pike struggling to navigate. Bounded across tops & added Haystacks at end. Slip on way down from Haystacks. Pint at Bridge Hotel.
Sarah Moore bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on April 9th, 2023 [from/via/route] My own invention! Wanting not to drive from YHA Ennerdale & to make the most of the High Stile ridge [with] On my own [weather] Not so sunny - good... very windy at times - tough (lots of people coming off the tops / turning back, but glad I didn't) - Loved this - an 8 hour walk really started to test me lengthwise & absolutely adored the lack of people on what I thought would be a crazy busy Easter Sunday. One to remember...
Ian Ashton hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on September 24th, 2022 [with] chelle
Richard Marchant summited High Crag (Buttermere) on July 18th, 2022 [from/via/route] Started out from the village of Buttermere making my way along a footpath to the Western end of Buttermere & up the Old Burtness to Bleaberry Tarn from here it was up to the Saddle & on to Red Pike. Then Ridge walked along to High Stile & High Crag down over Seat to Scarth Gap Pass & down the footpath to the South Shores of Buttermere & back to the car. [with] On my Own [weather] Clear hot sunny day with little or no breeze.
Paul Macey conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on June 7th, 2022 [from/via/route] C207 [with] Luke [weather] Sunny Intervals
Jeremy Torrance scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on October 8th, 2021 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Jon Stu [weather] Good autumn
Wayne Baxter walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on August 19th, 2021 [from/via/route] From Buttermere car park walk along Buttermere lake & up Scarth Gap Pass. Turn right up to Seat & onto Gamlin End onto High Crag. Followed the path to High Stile & Red Pike. Down the Saddle to Bleaberry Tarn, continue on the path back to Buttermere. [with] Sue [weather] very low cloudy to start once on top cloudy level was good - I wished I have done this walk the other way round, coming down Red Pike not easy.
John King climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on August 9th, 2009 [with] Paul [weather] Sunny - Date unknown
Michael Austin bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on October 14th, 2020 [from/via/route] C411 & C207
Kevin Foster hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on April 26th, 2021 [from/via/route] Gatescarth Farm [with] By myself [weather] Sunny with a few clouds. - A classic! The steep climb up Gamlin End was not as bad as expected due to the excellent footpath restoration work. A magnificent viewpoint at the top is ample reward.
Tim Winn summited High Crag (Buttermere) on October 10th, 2020 [from/via/route] Buttermere [weather] Misty
Andrew Johnson conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on November 12th, 2020 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Ted [weather] Cloudy, windy
Darren Wilson scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on August 30th, 2020 [from/via/route] Buttermere, Great Borne,Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag, Haystacks, Fleetwith Pike [with] Mike [weather] Good day - Clear day good views
Christine Shepherd walked up High Crag (Buttermere) during May, 2004 [from/via/route] Climbed from Buttermere [with] On my own [weather] Bright & sunny - Enjoyed this walk so much I led a group to the summit an July of the same year. Climbed the Buttermere fells again on 29.8.2017.
Stephen Batson climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on November 16th, 2019 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth [with] Clare [weather] Grey sky, fog on the summits - This was a very hard climb to start, rocks were wet & slippy
Robin Thorne bagged High Crag (Buttermere) during May, 2018 [from/via/route] Coast to Coast Walk [with] Jon Thorne [weather] Sunny
Caroline Winter summited High Crag (Buttermere) on August 27th, 2019 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth, Scarth Gap Pass, Seat, High Crag, High Stile, Red Pike, Starling Dodd, Great Borne, Steel Brow, Scales, The Fish at Buttermere, B5289 to CP [with] Becky [weather] 9.30 Start & already feeling hot & sticky on long climb up. No wind until late afternoon (SW), & great views of surrounding Fells. Cloud predicted on High Crag at 1pm, & cloud descended on leaving Great Borne. - Classic ridge walk with a plethora of views, not forthcoming on last visit here. Red scree peppering slopes of Red pike, so to descend further along after continuing the ridge to Starling Dodd & Great Borne. Also, saves climbing them from Ennerdale. Came down further West along a track, so needed to back Track to find NW route. Long walk out along slippery rocks & bracken. Diversion at scale Bridge, due to reconstruction. Missed last bus at 17.18 hrs, so ate a delicious trout dinner at The Fish, before walking the road-nearly as pleasant as the lake walk, & saved £25 plus on taxi fare.
Jamie Bryan conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on July 6th, 2019 [weather] Sunny
Richard Marshall scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on June 23rd, 2019 [from/via/route] Ennerdale Red Pike [with] Bo [weather] Cloudy/sunny. Very warm.
Lucy Perchard walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on November 19th, 2018 [from/via/route] From Buttermere up to Red Pike, High Style & High Crag & back down via Gamlin end & Scarth Gap [with] Tony [weather] Clear blue sky but very windy
Louis Smith climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on January 20th, 2019 - final one!
David Watson bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on August 30th, 2018 [from/via/route] Bowness Knot [weather] Sunny
Elaine Evans hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on September 6th, 2018 [from/via/route] From Gatesgarth car park, across Peggy's Bridge & up to High Crag, on to High Stile, then Red Pike, descended to Bleaberry Tarn & down to shores of Buttermere via Burtness Wood. Walked alongside water's edge back to carpark. [with] Sue and Christine [weather] Lovely day for walking, not too hot, a couple of light showers but mostly OK. - Really good, mostly enjoyable walk but did not like the descent from Red Pike at all! So pleased the rain didn't come in as forecast.
John Bryers summited High Crag (Buttermere) on August 16th, 2018 [from/via/route] Fifth of 7 Wainwrights today. Camped at Syke Farm, Buttermere. Walked along Crummock water from Scale bridge Scale force, traversing Starling Dodd to join ridge path to top of Great Bourne returning via Starling Dodd & on to Red Pike & High Stile & High Crag. [with] With Mya my faithful Patterdale Terrier. [weather] Weather blustery with occasional showers with some strong cool winds for August! - Once bagged, headed to Hay Stacks & beyond!
Bay Wan conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on July 31st, 2018 [from/via/route] Started at Buttermere on a loop which included Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag & Seat.....was thinking about Haystacks as well but that will have to wait for another day as me legs were shattered!!! [with] Cocoa dog - 7 yrs old [weather] Cloudy but dry. Gale force winds which blew everyone over & made them brace for their lives on top of High Crag!!! - Legs!! ...only 10 miles!?
Vic Royle scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on May 18th, 2018 [from/via/route] With Red Pike & High Stiles [with] Team Wiggle [weather] Glorious - Panteha's Peaks - Enough said 'Please stay in sight - IM ON A CALL' Gap in the forest Michelle & Steve's - Minnie got a black eye
Richard Wilkinson walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on May 6th, 2018 [from/via/route] Red Pike, the High Stile Ridge & Buttermere [weather] Sunny bank holiday - Steep climb to Red Pike & then over the tops of High Stile / High Crag, before returning along the shore of Buttermere.
Simon Myerscough climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on October 2nd, 2005 [with] Matthew & Martin [weather] Sunny with occasional cloud, quite warm - My first peak bagging walk
Jill Dean bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on November 11th, 2017 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Grez and dexter
John Almond hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on August 17th, 2017 [from/via/route] From Gatescarth - Burtness Wood - Bleaberry Tarn - Dodd - Red Pike - High Stile - HIGH CRAG - Seat - Scarth Gap - Wainwright 104 [with] Solo [weather] Good. - Found it hard going up Red Pike - painful leg cramps during latter part of walk!
Iain Jones summited High Crag (Buttermere) on July 29th, 2017 [from/via/route] Honister Hause (The Wainwright 60 - Day 1 (Ennerdale)) [with] Graeme High
Phillip Bulley conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on June 7th, 2017 [from/via/route] Via Seat [with] Judith and Ruby. [weather] Sunny but very windy.
Lydia Hopkinson scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on June 9th, 2015 [with] walking group [weather] glorious
Nick Dobson walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on May 20th, 2017 [from/via/route] NAtional Trust car park in Buttermere up to Red Pike & along the ridge [with] Margaret & Ralph [weather] Overcast & raining with poor visibility - Definitely the worst conditions we have endured in all our walks todate, visibility very poor with no distinguishable land marks. The wind & rain was now freezing andblowing horizantal & visibility just a few feet. The intention was to leave the summit over Hamlin end & seat down scarth gap, but unable to find the way, we retraced our steps back to Red Pike & descended the way we came up.
David Wand climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on August 27th, 1987 [with] Gayle [weather] Camped in the valley between the lakes
Chris Sheard bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on October 10th, 1999 [from/via/route] From Nab scar [with] George & Baz [weather] Cold with variable winds - Off at saddle due to deteriorating weather
Colin Egan hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on June 7th, 2015 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth farm to Scarth Gap, over Seat to High Crag [with] My wife Faith [weather] Fair & not too windy, cold at fell top - The path over Seat & up High Crag is now rough paved, a credit to the teams who look after the paths despite the heavy traffic us walkers create!
Leon Harvey summited High Crag (Buttermere) on June 11th, 2016 [with] Solo
Andrew Joss conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on October 8th, 2016 [from/via/route] Buttermere [weather] Sunny with a little cloud
Gillian Atkinson scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on October 5th, 2016 [from/via/route] from buttermere [with] hf holiday
Mark Davidson walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on June 7th, 2003 [with] Mike [weather] Hazy & a bit dull - but got some good views
Christina Lander climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on July 26th, 2016 [from/via/route] Buttermere - Scale Force - Red Pike - High Stile - High Crag - Hay Stacks - Gatesgarth [with] Dick, Kath & Mick [weather] Drizzle at first but dry later on
Anthony Scott bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on June 28th, 2016 [from/via/route] YHA Ennerdale [with] me [weather] Breezy, some drizzle, rain on the way - Great ridge walk
Clive Ward hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on June 25th, 2016 [from/via/route] Buttermere, Red Pike, Starling Dodd, along ridge to Haystacks then down [with] Hazel, Gill, Ian
Christine Knowles summited High Crag (Buttermere) on May 16th, 2016 [from/via/route] Ennerdale via Seat, followed by High Stile, Red Pike, Starling Dodd & Great Borne [with] Graham [weather] Cold but sunny - Surprisingly busy for early May
Victoria Bates conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on February 22nd, 2016 [from/via/route] C207 [with] Mark
Martyn Howarth scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on September 18th, 2015 [from/via/route] Buttermere. [with] BLP 24 Peakers. [weather] Very early morning & low cloud to start with, gradually clearing.
David Noble walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on November 14th, 2015 [from/via/route] Bowness Knott [with] Jack [weather] Hurricane Jane ended up light constant rain & 25mph winds a dud
Mike Jackson climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on September 13th, 2015 [from/via/route] Kirkstone Pass [with] Global [weather] Ok - Part of the 24 Peaks in 24 hours
Ann Davis bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on September 11th, 2015 [from/via/route] gatesgarth farm [with] just me [weather] sunny & windy up top - lovely quiet day
Matthew Fee hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on April 8th, 2015 [from/via/route] high style [with] Paul R [weather] Cloudy, Windy - Snow on the tops
Tracey Cowell summited High Crag (Buttermere) on July 16th, 2015 [from/via/route] Bleaberry tarn/red pike/high stile/high crag/seat/scarth gap/buttermere [with] Sister [weather] Sunny/some cloud/20mph gusts on summits
Denis Hoyle conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on June 21st, 2015 [from/via/route] Bed Pike [with] Burnley Mountaineering Club [weather] Overcast but no rain :-) - Hard need to be fitter.
Kevin Parnham scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on May 13th, 2015 [from/via/route] From Ennerdale via High Stile [with] Jo [weather] Glorious some cloud rolled I for a time but cleared eventually - Not pleasant descent down Gamlin End until pitched path reached. Visit to Black Sail hut well worth detour but long walk back along Ennerdale
Andy Gibbs walked up High Crag (Buttermere) during September, 2004 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Mike, Jake, Gav & Eddie [weather] Perfect
Ian Simpson climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on March 29th, 2014 [from/via/route] From Buttermere [with] Lou
Charlie Housley bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on May 31st, 2014 [from/via/route] From Scarth Gap Pass after descending Haystacks. [with] Joanna. [weather] Glorious all day. - Shame to have lost so much height only to have to gain it again tackling Gamlin End!
Joanne Mcgawley hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on May 3rd, 2014 [with] Rich [weather] Dry but Windy - 11.15 miles
Graham Coules summited High Crag (Buttermere) on May 3rd, 2012 [from/via/route] Buttermere circular [with] Dale [weather] Sunny & calm
Raymond Barnett conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on January 19th, 2014 [from/via/route] gatesgarth [with] self [weather] mist rain snow
Carl Murphy scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on June 9th, 2009 [from/via/route] ennerdale
Darren Mortimer walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on September 14th, 2013 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Dermot Palmer [weather] Fantastic sunny day with white fluffy clouds & very little wind
Harry Meijer climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on August 31st, 2013 [from/via/route] The Buttermere Fells,Buttermere [with] The Lake District Walker
Dave Eyes bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on August 20th, 2013 [from/via/route] Buttermere, along lake & up to Haystacks & on to High Crag [with] Christine Eyes [weather] good
John Tippins hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on April 4th, 2013 [from/via/route] High Stile [with] David Mann [weather] sunny, bright
Dale Verrall summited High Crag (Buttermere) on November 6th, 2010 [from/via/route] Buttermere - Walk number C207 [with] Amber [weather] Nice day
Michael Lee conquered High Crag (Buttermere) on June 17th, 2008 [from/via/route] Gatesgarth [with] Jill, Bob, Jessica & Thomas. [weather] Warm & sunny. - Our 25th Wedding anniversary!
Paul Carmichael scaled High Crag (Buttermere) on November 16th, 2012 [from/via/route] Buttermere [with] Neil Hopkin [weather] Wet
Iain Taylor walked up High Crag (Buttermere) on June 5th, 2011 [from/via/route] Glenridding (NY 38992 16932)
Lee Mutch climbed High Crag (Buttermere) on September 2nd, 2012 [with] John Black
Tony Aspden bagged High Crag (Buttermere) on June 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] C2C from High Stile [with] Andy [weather] Fine & sunny
Stephen Littlewood hiked High Crag (Buttermere) on August 12th, 2012 [from/via/route] from Buttermere [weather] overcast & windy - ridge walk from Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag & Haystacks 17mile round trip
Neil Smith, Matthew Thomas, Stephen Byrne, Jenny Godfrey, Patrick Rogozinski, Mark Smith, Karen Lythgoe, Wendy Sockett, Jane Wilkinson, Melanie Dunn, Paul Woodhouse, Edward Merewether, Michael Rygol, Mr M A Blanchard, Paul Kendell, Dennis Brown, Jo Dixon, Adrian Sherriff, David Butterfield, Adrian Roberts, David Shaw, John Walter, David Laws, Simon Clark, Steven Woodroffe, Carl Abbott, Edward Wells, Louise Sandwith, Jonathan Tobin, Mike Wilson, David Sheret, Simon Duerden, Michael Nolan, Phil Clark, Steve Frank, Paul Booth, David Hickin, Richard Price, Linda Mckeogh, Trevor Williams, Paul Henderson, John Cuthbert, Phyllis Mcgibbon, Patrick Buckland, Jonathan Chitty, Chris Bramley, Paul Stevens, Stephen Millington, Chris Bede, Rob Barklamb, Andy Nicholls, Jeanette Coward, Pete Howes, Jacqui Smith, Ray O'hara, Linda Walker, Libby Burns and Rebecca Hardy have all walked, climbed & bagged High Crag (Buttermere).To add (or remove) your name and experiences on this page - Log On and edit your Personal Mountain Bagging Record
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of High Crag (Buttermere)
Looking stead (Pillar) & Pillar behind Green Crag (Buttermere) & Hay Stacks (Haystacks) with High Crag (Buttermere) (right) from near Dubs Quarry
Seat (Buttermere), Gamlin End and High Crag (Buttermere) from Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Scarth Gap (left), Seat (Buttermere), High Crag (Buttermere) and High Stile from Fleetwith Pike
Fleetwith Pike (left), Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and the shoulder of High Crag (Buttermere) (right) across Buttermere
Seat (Buttermere) & High Crag (Buttermere) (left) and Grasmoor (right) from the small pool on Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
Honister Pass (left), Fleetwith Pike, Hay Stacks (Haystacks) and High Crag (Buttermere) across Buttermere
Seat (Buttermere), Gamlin End, High Crag (Buttermere), Mellbreak, Crummock Water, Buttermere Village, Rannerdale Knotts and the shoulder of Grasmoor from the summit of Hay Stacks (Haystacks)
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