Steeple via the Long Crag Ridge from Bleach Green


Home	The 214 Fells Map	My Diary

3rd May 2025

Overview

Ascent:	3,883 Feet - 1,184 Metres
Wainwrights:	5, Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Caw Fell - Crag Fell
Visiting:	Iron Crag
Weather:	A Cloudy Start With Patchy Rain Clearing for Sunshine by Late Morning. Brisk In The Wind Across The Summits. Highs of 18°C Lows of 7°C
Parking:	Bleach Green, Ennerdale Bridge
Area:	Western
Miles:	14
Walking With:	On My Own
Ordnance Survey:	OL4 - OL6
Time Taken:	6 Hours 45 Minutes
Route:	Bleach Green – Ennerdale Lake Path - Bowness – Irish Bridge - Ling Mell Plantations - Ennerdale Forest - Low Beck - Long Crag - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Little Gowder Crag - Caw Fell - Iron Crag - Crag Fell - Top of Revelin Crag - Ben Gill - Bleach Green

Parking Details and Map

Nearest Post Code:	CA23 3AS
Grid Reference:	NY 085 615
Notes:	A meduim sized car park found on the western tip of Ennerdale Water where despite its remote location can fill up quickly especially during the Summer months. Parking is free.

Map and Photo Gallery

Bowness Knott and Iron Crag (Ennerdale Fell) from the Western tip of Ennerdale Water 8°C 07:20am

It had been a long drive west for my first walk of my weeks holiday which I wanted to start with a bang, and you don't get much bigger than Steeple from Ennerdale. It had been a scorching week only for the weather to deteriorate slightly come weekend but it was no biggie as I have a long walk into the valley before the forecast is set to brighten come mid-morning which suited me just fine. I left home around 04:45am and arrived at Bleach Green car park just gone 07:00am where I parked with ease next to a young couple who bizarrely, were brushing their teeth, I'm guessing they'd slept in the car but I was too focused on getting on my way for pleasantries.

On the other side of the car park the occupants of two cars were kitting up as I performed a sweep of my boot making sure I hadn't forgotten anything before I brought the boot down, locked the car and set off in the direction of the lake. It was a cloudy, cool morning my forefingers and thumbs feeling the nip as I gripped my walking poles horizontally eager for the climb ahead. I'm gonna have a long wait. As I reached the lake it actually looked like the cloud was going to break with chunks of blue appearing between the grey and what light did get through was warm to the skin.

Anglers Crag on Crag Fell reflecting on Ennerdale Water.

I was marching at a fair lick as I rounded the western tip of the lake reaching Bowness Knott car park just over two miles later where I was treated to the smell of cooked bacon coming from a camper. I left the waft behind gripping a banana which I washed down with long gulps of Summer fruits from my bite valve. My hands were warming nicely despite the cloud which returned with a vengeance hanging low over Iron Crag and Crag Fell now behind me.

Crossing the River Liza at Irish Bridge.

Ling Mell Forest Plantation.

After two hours and just under 6 miles I'm almost at the point where I leave the forestry path at Low Beck.

Ascending through Ennerdale Forest Plantation.

I was treated to a light shower as I left the foresty track for the narrow path through the woodland with Low Beck off to my right never far from ear shot.

My first view of Pillar and Long Crag.

With the shower a distant memory the humid conditions coupled with my ascent through the woodland caused me to over heat as sweat rolled down my face dripping from the tip of my nose. The humidity soon changed once I cleared the woodland now replaced by a cool breeze, jeez it was so welcome. With the woodland behind me I followed a narrowpath through brush and boulder until I reached the base of Long Crag proper.

Peering into the Ennerdale Valley.

With High Crag below cloud I can just make out the summit of Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks on the left with White Pike (Pillar) appearing on the right.

Further up the Long Crag ridge.

Views over Windgap Cove towards Pillar, Wind Gap and Black Crag.

Steeple summit comes into view.

The last time I was here back in 2017 I had epic views of a cloud inversion pouring from the ridge into Windgap Cove, today I had no such luck but the good news was it looks like it's starting to brighten up.

Views back down the Long Crag ridge...

...towards Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike (Buttermere) and the Loweswater Fells beyond.

Pillar and Black Crag seen over Windgap Cove from below Steeple summit.

The sun came out right on queue just as I was about to summit Steeple where I met a fell runner who asked me "Steeple, right?" who then picked a small stone off the ground and added it to the summit cairn.

The connecting ridge linking Steeple with the main Scoat Fell ridge.

After a few minutes taking in the views I left and joined the land bridge linking Steeple with the main ridge and was passed by a couple who asked "does it get any worse than this" referring to the ground underfoot replying with "you've already passed the worst bit" pointing back towards a section of path that splits into two at a rock step "thank goodness" the woman replied. I kinda felt like I'd made her day! I was next passed by a more skilled lady who commented on how chilly it was ...she wasn't wrong and I couldn't blame her for wearing her hat and gloves.

Approaching Scoat Fell summit.

I joined the ridge proper to be met by a second lady heading for Steeple who had left her pack and poles by the wall from where I spotted a solo walker on Red Pike (Wasdale) which looked very tempting but a fell too far today.

Red Pike (Wasdale)

With Sca Fell seen left.

Views over Mirk Cove towards Steeple.

After a quick tap of the summit cairn perched atop the Scoat Fell's stone wall I took in the views over Mirk Cove towards Steeple now reitorating what the woman had said about how chilly it was, by eck I'm going to adding hat and gloves myself soon!

The view over Mirkiln Cove towards Tewit How, Iron Crag, Crag Fell and Ennerdale Lake.

It's so clear I can make out the off shore wind farms in the Solway Firth with the Scottish coastline in the distance.

Haycock, Little Gowder Crag and Caw Fell ahead.

Despite the sunshine it was indeed, bloody cold as I left Scoat Fell for Haycock wishing for permanent sunshine if only to take the edge off the bitter wind chill.

The view over Great Cove towards Little Gowder Crag, Iron Crag (Ennerdale Fell) and Crag Fell.

Peering over the wall towards Red Pike (Wasdale) Scafell Pike, Mickledor and Sca Fell.

With Scoat Tarn in the foreground.

Looking back on Scoat Fell, Steeple and the Long Crag Ridge.

I wonder where Long Crag gets its name from...asking for a friend!

The view towards Caw Fell, Iron Crag (Ennerdale Fell) Lank Rigg and Whoap.

With Little Gowder Crag seen right.

Caw Fell ahead.

I began my Haycock descent cursing the awkward boulders underfoot which slowed me down as I negotiated my way down until the smooth grassy plateau was reached Caw Fell bound.

Pillar, Scoat Fell, Steeple, Haycock and Little Gowder Crag from Caw Fell summit.

I'm a huge fan of Caw Fell due to its isolation and out of reach location where it's not uncommon to have the summit to yourself for hours on end, unfortunately this wasn't the case today where I was met by no less than seven other walkers two of which where sat on the summit cairn almost destroying it all in the name of a selfie. I stood there the expression on my face doing all the talking until I was asked did I want a selfie too. I couldn't say what I really wanted so settled with a this one photo before leaving.

Descending Caw Fell for Iron Crag (Ennerdale Fell)

I made a bee-line for the wall that will lead me onto Iron Crag in what now was glorious sunshine. I hadn't stopped all morning and could hear my stomach telling me to put food in it.

Grasmoor and The High Stile Ridge.

Lunch with a view.

It really doesn't get much better.

Lank Rigg and Whoap from Iron Crag.

With lunch over I re-shouldered my pack and continued to follow what is arguably one of Lakelands longest stone wall passing Lank Rigg and Whoap along the way.

Grike and Crag Fell from Iron Crag.

Despite the sunshine the breeze kept the temperature down but I was determined I was going to ascend the last summit of the day wearing my T Shirt even if it meant the cool air caused the hairs on my arm to stand on end.

Epic views into Ennerdale towards High Stile, High Crag, Hay Stacks, Pillar, Scoat Fell and Steeple.

Feeling a tad weary I mustered up the strength for the ascent on Crag Fell which after twelve or so miles wasn't as daunting as I feared relishing the pleasant grass underfoot I didn't hold back until I reached the summit where I found a family and their three dogs enjoying the midday sunshine. All three dogs wandered over barking whilst wagging their tales and I greeted them whilst kneeling down on one knee, getting back up would be a problem! I wandered away from the summit and in the summer breeze surveyed my route with the Long Crag ridge looking epic in the sunshine as did the whole Ennerdale valley. I returned to the summit where all three dogs barked at me again the family apologising profusely me laughing it off. There was no way I was going down on one knee though. A fell runner passed and began the steep descent of Revelin Crag his stride eating up the steep slope if only I could match it. The lower I descended the hotter it got and soon sweat was drying on my dusty forehead.

I could hear childrens laughter coming from the lake shore as I reached the access track to Crag Farm where I eagerly kicked my feet into the back of my boots, the shift was heavenly and painful in equal measures but I repeated it over and over until the pain turned to pleasure. I had somehow shaved an hour and a half from my last attempt at the same route back in 2017 when I was eight years younger, there's life in the old dog yet I nodded to myself. The car park at Bleach Green was full but quiet at the same time, no hustle just the odd folk milling about including a young couple eating lunch in the car who got a great view of my kit down including the moment my right calf muscle went into spasm, I watched in complete agony my calf muscle ripple below the skin while I tried my best to look normal. The spasm came and went the relief etched across my face as I squeezed a bottle of Lucozade Sport down in one go before collapsing into the drivers seat ready for the long drive home.