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682 m · Wainwright — Central Fells · Birketts to bag nearby, parking, buses, my hikes and live summit weather.

Loft Crag, a Lake District fell
Wainwright — Central FellsAlso a Birkett

Loft Crag

Loft Crag at 682m (2,237ft) is the smallest and least visited of the Langdale Pikes, sitting between Pike of Stickle and Harrison Stickle on the western side of the Pikes circuit.

682 m
Height
~3–4 h
Typical time
+7
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Loft Crag

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

682 mWainwright — Central Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+7 bonus Birketts within 3 km Severe in cloud

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

Modelled guidance for the 682 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 14° to 13°C, gusts to 40 mph, 12.1 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
14° / 13°
💨 40 mph
🌧 12.1 mm (100%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
14° / 11°
💨 32 mph
🌧 8.4 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
12° / 5°
💨 28 mph
🌧 1.3 mm (78%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
14° / 2°
💨 24 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (78%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
14° / 4°
💨 15 mph
🌧 3.6 mm (54%)
Sun 2 Aug
🌫️
15° / 6°
💨 19 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (24%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
15° / 6°
💨 16 mph
🌧 0.2 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 682 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

Loft Crag

Loft Crag, a Lake District fell
© Lee McCoy

Loft Crag at 682m (2,237ft) is the smallest and least visited of the Langdale Pikes, sitting between Pike of Stickle and Harrison Stickle on the western side of the Pikes circuit. Wainwright included it as a separate fell, noting its craggy character and the fine views it gives north towards High Raise. The Gimmer Crag on its eastern face is a classic rock climb. The summit is easily included on any Langdale Pikes circuit, adding little extra distance but completing the full set of four Pikes for the thorough Wainwright bagger.

Routes up Loft Crag

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

Langdale Horseshoe
20.2 km · ~6.5 hr · Severe
The full Langdale Horseshoe — fifteen tops, 1,500 m of ascent and one of the hardest days in the Lakes that involves no rope. The Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, the whole Crinkle Crags ridge and Pike of Blisco in a single round. It is long, rough, and the Crinkles will try to lead you down the wrong side. Do not start it late.
Langdale Pikes Round
12.3 km · ~3.9 hr · Moderate
A grand round of the Langdale Pikes and the fells behind them. From Great Langdale it climbs past Stickle Tarn to take in Pavey Ark (by the walkers' line, not Jack's Rake), Harrison Stickle, Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag, then loops over Thunacar Knott, High Raise and Sergeant Man before dropping back to the valley. It's a simpler line than my previous version, which added Blea Rigg — boggy on the approach from Sergeant Man. Handily, there are toilets at the car park at the end.
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Central
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
Nuttall
682 m
Height
2,238 ft
In feet
NY 2774 0713
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

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

Nearest parking: Old Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid), about 1.5 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Loft 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.

0.2 km EThorn Crag644 m · Central
2.0 km WSWWhite Stones - The Band568 m · Southern
2.2 km NNECodale Head732 m · Central
2.4 km SESide Pike362 m · Central
2.4 km WNWBlack Crags (Mickleden)588 m · Southern
2.5 km WNWBuck Pike (Mickleden)606 m · Southern
2.9 km NLow White Stones731 m · Central

Routes over Loft Crag

Langdale HorseshoePlanned
20.2 km · ~1497 m ascent · loop · ~6.5–8.5 h · Severe
Summits: Pavey ArkHarrison StickleThorn CragLoft CragPike of StickleBlack Crags (Mickleden)Rossett PikeBowfellShelter CragsCrinkle Crags - Gunson Knott (Fifth Crinkle)Crinkle Crags - Fourth CrinkleCrinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle)Crinkle Crags South Top (First Crinkle)Cold PikePike of Blisco

⬇️ Download GPX

⚠️ Warnings: The Bad Step (Crinkle Crags, Long Top). A short, awkward rock step that turns a walk into a scramble and regularly stops people dead. There is a bypass path to the left — use it if you are unsure.; Do not attempt Jack’s Rake on Pavey Ark unless you know what you are taking on. It is a graded scramble with real exposure, not a path. The walkers’ line goes round.; 20 km, 1,497 m and fifteen tops. This is a full, committing day. Start early, and decide your turn-back time before you leave the car.; The Crinkles are the classic place to descend the wrong side in cloud. Know which valley you want before you are in it.

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.

Langdale Pikes RoundRevised
12.34 km · ~830 m ascent · loop · ~3.5–5 h · Clockwise · Moderate
Summits: Sergeant ManHigh Raise (High White Stones)Thunacar KnottPavey ArkHarrison SticklePike of StickleLoft CragThorn Crag

⬇️ Download GPX

Best season: Any season in good conditions; the plateau behind the Pikes is featureless in cloud.

⚠️ Warnings: Avoid Jack's Rake on Pavey Ark unless you're a confident scrambler — the walkers' route reaches the same summit.; Boggy ground and confusing navigation on the High Raise and Sergeant Man plateau in mist.; Steep, rocky ground around the Pikes.

Full route guide ↗

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

The View from Loft 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 Loft Crag36 labelled tops shown (5 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 6 kmSkiddaw · 22 kmGreat End · 5 kmGreat Gable · 7 kmCrinkle Crags · 4 kmGrasmoor · 17 kmHigh Street · 17 kmHigh Stile · 13 kmThe Old Man of Coniston · 9 kmGrisedale Pike · 17 kmGlaramara · 5 kmRed Screes · 12 kmGrey Friar · 7 kmGreat Rigg · 8 kmWetherlam · 6 kmIll Bell · 16 kmBlack Sails · 6 kmLittle Stand · 5 kmCold Pike · 4 kmBowfell · 3 kmLord's Seat · 21 kmShelter Crags · 3 kmDow Crag · 10 kmSergeant Man · 2 kmHarrison Stickle · 0 kmThunacar Knott · 1 kmIngleborough · 57 km · clear daysWhernside · 53 km · clear daysWard's Stone · 58 km · clear daysThe Calf · 40 km · clear daysSwinklebank Crag · 22 kmBirk Fell Man · 6 kmLingmoor Fell · 4 kmCat Bells · 13 kmGreat Intake · 6 kmGreat Knoutberry Hill · 55 km · clear daysEsk Pike · 4 kmCrag Hill · 16 kmGreen Gable · 7 kmDove Crag · 10 kmAllen Crags · 4 kmThornthwaite Crag · 16 kmLooking Steads · 4 kmLong Side · 22 kmFroswick · 16 kmYoke · 16 kmGreat Knott · 3 kmCausey Pike · 15 kmCrinkle Crags South Top · 4 kmGreat Carrs · 6 kmRossett Pike · 3 kmBlack Crags · 2 kmBlake Rigg · 3 kmWild Boar Fell · 49 km · clear daysBarf · 21 kmHawk Rigg · 6 kmBrunt Knott · 22 kmSide Pike · 2 kmBlack Fell · 8 kmHolme Fell · 8 kmReston Scar · 20 kmGrandsire · 18 kmTinto · 131 km · a handful of days a yearGreen Lowther · 112 km · a rare clear dayGreat Whernside · 80 km · a rare clear dayManod Mawr · 172 km · a handful of days a yearWinter Hill · 100 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Loft Crag, by direction
  • North: Skiddaw South Top (22 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (22 km), Skiddaw (22 km), Skiddaw North Top (22 km)
  • North-east: Great Rigg (8 km)
  • East: Dove Crag (10 km), Red Screes (12 km), Caudale Moor (14 km), Stony Cove Pike (14 km), Thornthwaite Crag (16 km), Ill Bell (16 km), High Street (17 km)
  • South: Wetherlam (6 km), Black Sails (6 km), Swirl How (7 km), Grey Friar (7 km), Great How (7 km), The Old Man of Coniston (9 km)
  • South-west: Crinkle Crags (3 km), Crinkle Crags (4 km), Crinkle Crags (4 km), Crinkle Crags (4 km), Little Stand (5 km)
  • West: Esk Pike (4 km), Allen Crags (4 km), Great End (5 km), Scafell Pike (6 km)
  • North-west: Looking Steads (4 km), Glaramara (5 km), Green Gable (7 km), Great Gable (7 km), Dale Head (10 km), High Stile (13 km), High Stile (13 km), Sail (15 km), Crag Hill (16 km), Grasmoor (17 km), Grisedale Pike (17 km), Sand Hill (17 km), Hopegill Head (18 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Tinto (131 km, Scotland), Green Lowther (112 km, Scotland), Queensberry (97 km, Scotland), Culter Fell (124 km, Scotland), Great Whernside (80 km, England), Manod Mawr (172 km, Wales), Winter Hill (100 km, England), Gathersnow Hill (121 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 Loft Crag

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
57Wainwrights in view+15 marginal
57 kmFurthest sightlineIngleborough
2Sea in viewSolway Firth, Morecambe Bay
Far horizons
  • Solway Firth bay/estuaryNNW · 58 km in view
  • Ingleborough Yorkshire DalesSE · 57 km clear
  • Whernside Yorkshire DalesESE · 52 km clear
  • Morecambe Bay bay/estuarySSE · 39 km in view
All 57 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Pike of Stickle, Harrison Stickle, Thunacar Knott, Blea Rigg, Rossett Pike, Pike of Blisco, Bowfell, Lingmoor Fell (Brown How), Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Cold Pike, Esk Pike, Allen Crags, Glaramara, Silver How, Great End, Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot, Wetherlam, Scafell Pike, Great Carrs, Swirl How, Grey Friar, Green Gable, Loughrigg Fell, Stone Arthur, Great Gable, Holme Fell, Nab Scar, Heron Pike (Rydal), Black Fell, Great Rigg, The Old Man of Coniston (Coniston Old Man), Dow Crag, Low Pike, Dale Head, High Pike (Scandale), High Spy, Dove Crag, Red Screes, Baystones (Wansfell), Cat Bells (Catbells), Stony Cove Pike (Caudale Moor), Ard Crags, Causey Pike, Scar Crags, Sail, Sour Howes, Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Thornthwaite Crag, Ill Bell, Yoke, Sallows, Grasmoor, High Street, Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Barf, Lord's Seat

How Loft 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.

Best parking to hike Loft Crag

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

Old Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) — 1.5 km from summit (straight line)
Head of Great Langdale — Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco, the Langdale Pikes.
Directions
🚺 Public toilets (510m) — Free🚺 Public toilets (649m) — Free🍺 Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel🍺 Sticklebarn
Stickle Ghyll / New Dungeon Ghyll (NT, paid) — 1.6 km from summit (straight line)
Direct start up Stickle Ghyll for the Langdale Pikes.
Directions
🚺 Public toilets (640m) — Free🚺 Public toilets (770m) — Free

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 Langdale Horseshoe route:

💧 possible water source (5 m)💧 possible water source (6 m)💧 possible water source (81 m)🚺 map (10 m)🚺 map (11 m)🚌 New Dungeon Ghyll (144 m)

On the Langdale Pikes Round route:

💧 possible water source (7 m)🛖 map (6 m)🚌 New Dungeon Ghyll (110 m)

💧 Treat water from the fell before you drink it. A mapped point is usually a tap or public supply, but never drink untreated from a beck, stream or tarn — even clear-looking hill water can carry giardia or cryptosporidium from livestock or a carcass upstream and leave you seriously ill. Run it through a filter or purifier (a LifeStraw, Sawyer Squeeze or HydraPak) or bring it to a rolling boil first.

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

Buses to Loft Crag from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 516 “Langdale Rambler”
Ambleside – Skelwith Bridge – Elterwater – New Dungeon Ghyll – Old Dungeon Ghyll
Catch it from: Ambleside · Windermere (change at Ambleside)
The Langdale bus — Pikes, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco all walkable from the Dungeon Ghyll stops. Seasonal frequency varies; check before relying on the last bus back.

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

My hikes over Loft 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 Loft Crag

Hazard: Moderate

The middle summit of the Langdale Pikes, a small, abrupt rocky top perched directly above the magnificent buttress of Gimmer Crag — one of the great Lakeland climbing cliffs. The summit is gained easily enough, but it sits at the lip of a serious drop, the south side is craggy and broken, and the Pikes plateau is easy to misjudge in mist. Langdale Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.

  • Gimmer Crag (the drop below the summit): The small abrupt summit stands right above Gimmer Crag, a sheer climbing buttress falling to Langdale. Keep well back from the southern edge near the top, especially in cloud or wind — and if scrambling on the south side, be aware climbers may be on the crag below.
  • Craggy south side & summit rocks: The south flank around Thorn Crag and Gimmer is craggy and broken, with scrambling lines that are steeper and more serious than they look. Keep to the walkers' path to the col and summit; don't drift onto the steep rock, particularly when wet.
  • Plateau navigation among the Pikes: Loft Crag, Pike o' Stickle and Harrison Stickle cluster together with steep ground to Langdale and Mickleden between them. In mist it's easy to confuse the tops or drift toward an edge — navigate by compass.
Who should attempt this fell: Loft Crag is an easy summit with a serious edge: keep well back from the lip above Gimmer Crag, and resist the steeper scrambling lines on the south side unless you're experienced and equipped. Navigate carefully among the closely-set Pikes in cloud, mind the steep drops to Langdale, and treat the summit rocks and edges as full winter terrain when iced.

Most common causes: Walkers straying over the edge above Gimmer Crag near the summit · Scrambling difficulty or falls on the craggy south side · Navigation errors and edge-drift on the Langdale Pikes plateau in cloud · Winter ice on the summit rocks and edges

Local Mountain Rescue: Langdale Ambleside 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

Navigating Loft 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 Loft 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 Loft Crag

Maps & guidebooks for Loft Crag

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