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839 m · Wainwright — North Western Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Crag Hill - a high view over grassy ridges and deep valleys to distant fells, under broken cloud
Wainwright — North Western FellsAlso a Birkett

Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Crag Hill at 839m (2,753ft), also known as Eel Crag, is the highest point of the Coledale Horseshoe ridge in the North Western Fells, a broad, rocky summit connecting Grasmoor to Sail and Hopegill Head.

839 m
Height
~3.5–4.5 h
Typical time
+9
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

839 mWainwright — North Western Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+9 bonus Birketts within 3 km Severe in cloud

Is it worth going? — Today’s conditions & 7-day summit forecast

Modelled guidance for the 839 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 13° to 12°C, gusts to 38 mph, 4.8 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
13° / 12°
💨 38 mph
🌧 4.8 mm (99%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
13° / 9°
💨 28 mph
🌧 14.0 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
11° / 3°
💨 29 mph
🌧 3.0 mm (87%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
13° / 1°
💨 22 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (86%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
13° / 4°
💨 15 mph
🌧 2.7 mm (82%)
Sun 2 Aug
☁️
14° / 4°
💨 17 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (35%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
13° / 4°
💨 16 mph
🌧 0.4 mm (23%)

Forecast snapshot from 28 Jul 2026, 04:58 UTC — refreshed nightly and updated live in your browser. Temperatures and gusts adjusted to the 839 m summit altitude via Open-Meteo. Summit conditions are always harsher than the valley — check the professional mountain forecasts before you go.

Pro mountain forecasts: MWIS · Met Office mountain forecast

About the walk

Key information

Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Crag Hill - a high view over grassy ridges and deep valleys to distant fells, under broken cloud
© Lee McCoy

Crag Hill at 839m (2,753ft), also known as Eel Crag, is the highest point of the Coledale Horseshoe ridge in the North Western Fells, a broad, rocky summit connecting Grasmoor to Sail and Hopegill Head. Wainwright included it in his North Western Fells guide as a summit offering outstanding views across the Coledale valley and beyond. The ridge walk from Causey Pike through Sail to Crag Hill and Grasmoor is one of the finest in the district.

Routes up Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Hand-mapped, with GPX to download — full maps further down.

Coledale Round
16 km · ~5.1 hr · Hard
One of the great north-western horseshoes, and a properly big mountain day from Braithwaite. From the little car park tucked behind the trees on the Whinlatter Pass road — or straight off the bus — a steady wake-up climb leads up over Kinn and Sleet How before Grisedale Pike shows its hand: a steep, craggy pull the map never quite warns you about, with hands needed on rock near the top. From its rocky summit the round opens out — the airy ridge over Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head's tiny, wind-blown perch, the broad sweep to Crag Hill and Sail, then a long, satisfying horseshoe back over the quieter tops of Outerside, Stile End and Barrow. Six Wainwrights, a handful of Birkett tops, and some of the best ridge-walking in the Lakes for the effort.
High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows
15.7 km · ~5.5 hr
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
North Western
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
HuMP
839 m
Height
2,753 ft
In feet
NY 1927 2033
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right). Parking positions are approximate.

Nearest parking: Lanthwaite Green (NT), about 3.5 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Crag Hill (Eel Crag) (within 3 km)

These Birkett tops are not Wainwright summits — detour to them on this walk and they are pure profit. Distances are straight-line; allow extra for terrain.

0.4 km NWEel Crag (Birkett)807 m · North Western
1.2 km SWThirdgill Head Man734 m · North Western
1.3 km SSEIll Crag (Newlands) (Knott Rigg North Top)546 m · North Western
1.6 km NNWSand Hill756 m · North Western
1.7 km NHobcarton Crag (Hobcarton Head)738 m · North Western
2.3 km WSWLad Hows426 m · North Western
2.4 km NWGasgale Crags703 m · North Western
2.5 km NWWhiteside East Top (Whiteside) (Gasgale Crags)719 m · North Western
2.5 km NNWLadyside Pike704 m · North Western

Routes over Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Coledale RoundRevised
16.02 km · ~1108 m ascent · loop · ~5–7 h · Loop · Hard
Summits: KinnGrisedale PikeHobcarton Crag (Hobcarton Head)Hopegill HeadSand HillCrag Hill (Eel Crag)SailOutersideStile EndBarrow

✎️ The Whinlatter Pass road car park is small and tucked behind the trees — and the bus to Braithwaite makes this an easy car-free round, adding only a couple of hundred metres of road to reach the start.

⬇️ Download GPX

Best season: At its best in clear, settled weather — the airy sections and the broad Crag Hill plateau want good visibility, and they're exactly where care matters most. The lower path up from Braithwaite can be smothered in bracken at the height of summer; in firm winter conditions the Grisedale Pike climb and the exposed tops become a serious proposition for axe-and-crampon walkers only.

⚠️ Warnings: Grisedale Pike's upper climb is steep and craggy — you'll want hands on rock near the top. It's no place to be rushed, or to be in poor conditions.; Along Sand Hill and Hobcarton Crag, keep left in cloud: there's a sharp, rocky drop close on the right that's easy to drift towards.; Hopegill Head's summit is tiny and exposed — in a strong wind you may have to crouch to claim it.; Watch the short grassy ridge at Kinn; a careless step could slide you down the bank. Worth marking on the GPS.; Off Sail, take the switchback path down to the col — the alternative Long Comb line dropping to the right looked treacherous; avoid it.; High Moss is reliably boggy underfoot.

Full route guide ↗

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad HowsPlanned
15.69 km · ~1399 m ascent · loop · ~5.5–7.5 h
Summits: High SnockriggWhiteless PikeThirdgill Head ManCrag Hill (Eel Crag)Eel Crag (Birkett)GrasmoorLad Hows

⬇️ Download GPX

Full route guide ↗

✎️ Planned route — drawn but not personally walked or checked yet.

A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

The View from Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

A computed 360° skyline — every visible named top labelled by distance and bearing, from the terrain model in perfect clarity, not photographed. Drag to pan; reveal the far four-nations horizon.

drag to pan · arrow keys
Computed 360-degree skyline from Crag Hill (Eel Crag)36 labelled tops shown (22 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 13 kmHelvellyn · 16 kmSkiddaw · 11 kmGreat End · 12 kmPillar · 8 kmRaise · 15 kmFairfield · 19 kmBlencathra · 15 kmSkiddaw Little Man · 10 kmGreat Dodd · 15 kmGrasmoor · 2 kmStybarrow Dodd · 15 kmScoat Fell · 10 kmSwirl How · 21 kmKirk Fell · 10 kmHaycock · 11 kmGlaramara · 11 kmHigh Raise · 14 kmRed Pike · 6 kmUllscarf · 13 kmBowscale Fell · 17 kmCross Fell · 51 km · clear daysBlack Combe · 35 km · clear daysEel Crag · 0 kmGrisedale Pike · 2 kmHopegill Head · 2 kmHobcarton Crag · 2 kmThirdgill Head Man · 1 kmCriffel · 48 km · clear daysClough Head · 14 kmWhiteside East Top · 2 kmWhiteside · 3 kmUllock Pike · 10 kmIron Crag · 11 kmGreat Borne · 8 kmStanding Crag · 12 kmScafell · 14 kmIll Crag · 13 kmNethermost Pike · 16 kmCatstye Cam · 16 kmEsk Pike · 14 kmGreat Rigg · 19 kmBlack Sails · 22 kmJenkin Hill · 11 kmHarrison Stickle · 16 kmCombe Head · 11 kmLittle Gowder Crag · 11 kmWandope · 1 kmLong Side · 10 kmLadyside Pike · 2 kmGasgale Crags · 2 kmScar Crags · 2 kmPlough Fell · 29 kmCalfhow Pike · 14 kmHigh Spy · 6 kmStarling Dodd · 7 kmHigh Seat · 10 kmLittle Dodd · 6 kmSergeant's Crag · 12 kmLord's Seat · 6 kmGavel Fell · 8 kmGale Fell · 7 kmWhinlatter · 5 kmMellbreak · 5 kmSeat How · 6 kmLonglands Fell · 17 kmHigh Pen · 8 kmBarrow · 4 kmGraystones · 6 kmLow Fell · 6 kmFellbarrow · 7 kmSourfoot Fell · 6 kmKinn · 4 kmLing Fell · 8 kmOrthwaite Bank · 15 kmDent · 17 kmLothwaite · 9 kmBengairn · 54 km · clear daysCaermote Hill · 17 kmKillyleoch Hill · 69 km · clear daysSlieve Donard · 179 km · a handful of days a yearMerrick · 100 km · a rare clear dayBroad Law · 103 km · a rare clear daySnaefell · 86 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Carsphairn · 98 km · a rare clear dayCairnsmore of Fleet · 84 km · a rare clear dayWindlestraw Law · 124 km · a handful of days a yearTinto · 116 km · a rare clear daySlieve Croob · 178 km · a handful of days a yearIngleborough · 71 km · a rare clear dayGreen Lowther · 96 km · a rare clear dayWard's Stone · 73 km · a rare clear dayEttrick Pen · 87 km · a rare clear dayCadair Berwyn · 188 km · a handful of days a yearCairn Table · 114 km · a rare clear dayBeneraird · 121 km · a handful of days a yearAgnew's Hill · 176 km · a handful of days a yearWisp Hill · 81 km · a rare clear dayRoan Fell · 77 km · a rare clear dayColt Hill · 93 km · a rare clear dayPeel Fell · 90 km · a rare clear dayMull Hill · 113 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Crag Hill (Eel Crag), by direction
  • North-east: Skiddaw Little Man (10 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (10 km), Skiddaw South Top (11 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (11 km), Skiddaw (11 km), Skiddaw North Top (11 km), Broad End (12 km), Knowe Crags (14 km), Gategill Fell Top (14 km), Blencathra (15 km), Atkinson Pike (15 km)
  • East: Great Dodd (15 km), White Side (15 km), Stybarrow Dodd (15 km), Helvellyn Lower Man (15 km), Raise (15 km), Helvellyn (16 km), Catstye Cam (16 km), Nethermost Pike (16 km)
  • South-east: High Crag (16 km), Dollywaggon Pike (17 km), Cofa Pike (18 km), Fairfield (19 km)
  • South: Pillar (8 km), Black Crag (9 km), Steeple (9 km), Scoat Fell (10 km), Great Gable (10 km), Great End (12 km), Broad Crag (13 km), Scafell Pike (13 km), Ill Crag (13 km), Esk Pike (14 km), Scafell (14 km), Pike de Bield (14 km), Bowfell (15 km), Crinkle Crags (16 km), Swirl How (21 km)
  • South-west: High Stile (6 km)
  • West: Grasmoor (2 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Slieve Donard (179 km, Ireland), Merrick (100 km, Scotland), Broad Law (103 km, Scotland), Snaefell (86 km, Isle of Man), Cairnsmore of Carsphairn (98 km, Scotland), Cairnsmore of Fleet (84 km, Scotland), Corserine (96 km, Scotland), Windlestraw Law (124 km, Scotland).

Computed from terrain in perfect clarity, not photographed · distances are straight-line.

Computed from Copernicus GLO-30 terrain; distant tops from the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY 4.0). See how we compute the view · and the summit intervisibility report below.

What you can see from Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
105Wainwrights in view+9 marginal
102 kmFurthest sightlineMerrick · possible under favourable refraction
2Sea in viewIrish Sea, Solway Firth

On the clearest days the view reaches across to Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Far horizons
  • Merrick ScotlandNW · 102 km clear
  • Snaefell Isle of ManWSW · 86 km clear
  • Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesSE · 72 km clear
  • Whernside Yorkshire DalesSE · 67 km clear
  • Great Dun Fell North PenninesENE · 53 km clear
  • Cross Fell North PenninesENE · 51 km clear
  • Criffel ScotlandNNW · 49 km clear
  • Solway Firth bay/estuaryNNW · 37 km in view
  • Irish Sea open waterWNW · 27 km in view
All 105 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Sail, Wandope, Ard Crags, Knott Rigg, Scar Crags, Grasmoor, Hopegill Head, Outerside, Grisedale Pike, Causey Pike, Whiteside (Whiteside West Top), Robinson, Barrow, Hindscarth, Whinlatter (Brown How - Whinlatter), Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top), Maiden Moor, Cat Bells (Catbells), Red Pike (Buttermere), Dale Head, High Spy, High Stile, Fleetwith Pike, High Crag (Buttermere), Hen Comb, Graystones (Graystones North Top), Broom Fell, Starling Dodd, Haystacks (Buttermere), Fellbarrow - Mosser Fell, Gavel Fell, Great Borne, Grey Knotts, Grange Fell (Brund Fell), Ling Fell, Pillar, Walla Crag, Brandreth, Dodd (Skiddaw), Steeple, Bleaberry Fell, Base Brown, Scoat Fell (Little Scoat Fell), High Seat, Latrigg, Kirk Fell, Green Gable, Carl Side, Long Side, Ullock Pike, Great Gable, Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot, Skiddaw Little Man, Haycock, Skiddaw, Caw Fell, Glaramara, Crag Fell, Armboth Fell (Armboth Fell South Top), Lonscale Fell, Eagle Crag, High Rigg (Naddle Fell), Sergeant's Crag, Lingmell, Great End, Allen Crags, Ullscarf, Lank Rigg, Scafell Pike, Esk Pike, Scafell, High Raise (High White Stones), Rossett Pike, Watson's Dodd, Clough Head, Bowfell, Great Dodd, Blencathra - Hallsfell Top, White Side, Stybarrow Dodd, Thunacar Knott, Raise, Pike of Stickle, Pavey Ark, Binsey, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag, Helvellyn, Catstye Cam, Nethermost Pike, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Dollywaggon Pike, Longlands Fell, Bowscale Fell, Seat Sandal, Pike of Blisco, Cold Pike, Fairfield, Great Rigg, Heron Pike (Rydal), Great Mell Fell, Swirl How, Wetherlam, Red Screes, Dow Crag

How Crag Hill (Eel Crag)’s view compares with all 214 — the View Report: every Wainwright ranked by what you can see from the top.

Sightlines from a bare-earth terrain model (forests and buildings not included), corrected for the Earth’s curvature and average atmospheric refraction. “Distant” sightlines and any over 100 km depend on exceptionally clear air. Modelled from Copernicus GLO-30 open elevation data — a guide to the view, not a guarantee of any single one.

The path beneath your boots

The Coledale side of Crag Hill held the worst historic erosion scar in the Lakes — up to 30 metres wide and 4 metres deep. Fix the Fells has rebuilt the paths across Coledale Hause and Crag Hill to heal it.

Fix the Fells built and maintains this path. How a fell path is made → · Give back

Path-repair data © Fix the Fells (National Trust / Lake District National Park). Source.

Best parking to hike Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Where we have the data, each parking spot also shows the nearest public toilets and facilities (cafés, pubs, shops).

Lanthwaite Green (NT) — 3.5 km from summit (straight line)
At the foot of Grasmoor and Whiteside, Crummock Water.
Directions
Buttermere village (NT, paid) — 3.7 km from summit (straight line)
For Red Pike, High Stile, Robinson, Rannerdale Knotts.
Directions
🚺 Buttermere village (132m) — Accessible☕ Syke Farm Tea Room☕ Croft House Farm Café🍺 The Buttermere Court Hotel

Positions are approximate — zoom the map to confirm. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

Tip: pan and zoom the interactive map at the top of this page to spot other potential parking near your route.

Water & shelter on the way up

On the Coledale Round route:

🛖 map (25 m)⛺ Hope Memorial Camp (64 m)

On the High Snockrigg, Eel Crag & Lad Hows route:

🛖 map (9 m)🛖 map (52 m)🚌 Mountain Road junction (11 m)🚌 Bridge Hotel (133 m)🚌 The Fish Hotel (184 m)🚌 Buttermere Youth Hostel (N bound) (209 m)⛺ Syke Farm Campsite (355 m)

On-route facilities © OpenStreetMap contributors, per route — an absent marker doesn’t mean none.

Buses to Crag Hill (Eel Crag) from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 77 / 77A “Honister Rambler”
Keswick – Portinscale – Hawse End (Catbells) – Grange – Seatoller – Honister Pass – Buttermere – Lorton – Whinlatter – Keswick (circular)
Catch it from: Keswick (connect via 555 from Windermere/Ambleside or X4/X5 from Penrith)
Seasonal (roughly Easter–October). Brilliant for the North Western fells: Catbells, Dale Head from Honister, the Buttermere fells and Whinlatter.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com or Traveline before relying on a last bus.

My hikes over Crag Hill (Eel Crag) (Strava)

1 logged hike pass over this summit:

Interactive route maps and photos load here for visitors with JavaScript. Data from Strava.

Hazard & Incident Information for Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Hazard: Moderate

The high point of the Coledale round, a broad-topped fell whose northern crags — Eel Crag — give it its alternative name, overlooking the head of Coledale. The summit is gentle, but it is ringed and approached by steep, loose, eroded ground: the descent toward Coledale Hause is notoriously slippery and stony, the Eel Crag face drops sharply on the north, and the flat top is a navigation trap in mist. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground on the busy Coledale horseshoe.

  • Steep, loose descent toward Coledale Hause: The west/south-west ground off Crag Hill is steep, badly eroded and stony, and is a common place for slips and turned ankles — worse when wet. Take it slowly, keep to the worn line, and don't let momentum carry you onto steeper rock.
  • Eel Crag (north face above Coledale): The northern crags fall away steeply to the head of Coledale. In cloud the flat summit gives little warning of the edge — keep back from the northern rim and don't drift toward it on a vague bearing.
  • The flat summit in cloud / the Sail connecting ridge: The broad top is featureless and easy to misjudge in mist; set a compass bearing before leaving it. The narrow neck linking Crag Hill to Sail is straightforward in the dry but exposed in strong wind.
Who should attempt this fell: On a clear day the Coledale round over Crag Hill is fine ridge walking, but the descents are steeper and looser than the gentle summit suggests — the pull-off toward Coledale Hause in particular catches people out, especially in the wet. Navigate carefully in cloud to keep clear of Eel Crag, and save the steep loose sections for careful, unhurried footwork. In winter the exposed ridge and edges need full winter kit.

Most common causes: Slips and ankle injuries on the steep, eroded descents · Navigation errors off the featureless summit in cloud · Walkers straying toward the Eel Crag edge in poor visibility · Falls compounded by wet, slippery rock and scree

Local Mountain Rescue: Keswick Mountain Rescue Team · Reviewed 14 Jun 2026

Safety: Hazard guidance compiled from published Mountain Rescue reports and well-documented accident history - editorial background, not a live feed of callouts. Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

Report incorrect information

A note on Coledale Beck

Coledale Beck runs below the old Force Crag mine and carries mine-derived zinc — enough to matter for river life, though the lead and cadmium that would harm a person stay below the drinking limit here. Treat any hill water before drinking (a filter won’t remove dissolved metals); don’t single this beck out as a clean fill-up.

What’s actually in this beck — we mapped every mine-fed one →

Metal-mine water data © Environment Agency (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Navigating Crag Hill (Eel Crag) in cloud

Severe

A rough, rocky summit ringed by crags, with no single obvious way off in poor visibility. A serious place to be caught in cloud: carry map and compass (or GPS) and know how to use them, or save it for a clear day.

In winter — snow, whiteout, cornices, buried features — every top demands full winter navigation skills whatever its band, and a broad, gentle summit can be the worst place of all. See walking in bad weather and the navigation guide.

How Crag Hill (Eel Crag) compares with all 214 — the Clag Index: navigating in cloud. A relative, deliberately cautious guide; the site can’t navigate for you.

Other fells near Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

Maps & guidebooks for Crag Hill (Eel Crag)

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