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

Sergeant's Crag - a rocky heathery top above a deep green valley, distant fells ranged across the horizon under blue sky
Wainwright — Central FellsAlso a Birkett

Sergeant's Crag

Sergeant's Crag at 571m (1,873ft) is a craggy, rocky summit above Langstrath in Borrowdale, its small crags giving a surprisingly dramatic profile for a modest summit.

571 m
Height
~2.5–3 h
Typical time
+10
Bonus Birketts
See routes & download GPX →

Home › Fells › Sergeant's Crag

Written and walked by Lee McCoy · Last reviewed

571 mWainwright — Central Fells✓ summit is also a Birkett+10 bonus Birketts within 3 km Care needed in cloud

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

Modelled guidance for the 571 m summit. Always check the Met Office mountain forecast and MWIS before you set off.

On the summit today (Tue 28 Jul): 15° to 14°C, gusts to 38 mph, 11.8 mm of rain forecast.

Tue 28 Jul
🌧️
15° / 14°
💨 38 mph
🌧 11.8 mm (100%)
Wed 29 Jul
🌧️
15° / 12°
💨 27 mph
🌧 5.0 mm (100%)
Thu 30 Jul
🌦️
13° / 6°
💨 28 mph
🌧 1.3 mm (78%)
Fri 31 Jul
🌤️
15° / 2°
💨 24 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (78%)
Sat 1 Aug
🌦️
15° / 4°
💨 15 mph
🌧 3.6 mm (54%)
Sun 2 Aug
🌫️
16° / 6°
💨 19 mph
🌧 0.0 mm (24%)
Mon 3 Aug
🌦️
15° / 6°
💨 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 571 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

Sergeant's Crag

Sergeant's Crag - a rocky heathery top above a deep green valley, distant fells ranged across the horizon under blue sky
© Lee McCoy

Sergeant's Crag at 571m (1,873ft) is a craggy, rocky summit above Langstrath in Borrowdale, its small crags giving a surprisingly dramatic profile for a modest summit. Wainwright noted its fine position above the wild Langstrath valley and the excellent views it gives down Borrowdale. The ascent from Stonethwaite via Langstrath is a fine approach through one of Lakeland's grandest valleys. Combined naturally with Eagle Crag for a good Langstrath circuit. The views of the Scafell group from the ridge are excellent.

Routes up Sergeant's Crag

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

Ullscarf, Eagle Crag & Sergeant's Crag
14.8 km · ~4.2 hr
A rugged ~15 km round from Stonethwaite over three Wainwrights — the bold rocky nose of Eagle Crag, neighbouring Sergeant's Crag, and the broad whaleback of Ullscarf — returning down the quiet head of Borrowdale.
Classifications & hill data
Wainwright
Central
Birkett
Fellranger
Synge
571 m
Height
1,873 ft
In feet
NY 2739 1138
Grid ref

Map & nearby Birketts

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

Nearest parking: Stonethwaite (roadside, limited), about 3.1 km from the summit (straight line). Full parking, toilets and bus details are below.

Birketts near Sergeant's 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.

0.9 km ELining Crag542 m · Central
1.6 km SSELow White Stones731 m · Central
1.7 km WDovenest Top (Dovenest Crag) (Stonethwaite Fell)633 m · Southern
1.9 km WNWRosthwaite Fell (Rosthwaite Cam)612 m · Southern
2.2 km NEColdbarrow Fell - High Saddle675 m · Central
2.4 km NELow Saddle656 m · Central
2.5 km WCombe Head735 m · Southern
2.7 km SECodale Head732 m · Central
2.9 km WThornythwaite Fell574 m · Southern
3.0 km NEStanding Crag611 m · Central

Routes over Sergeant's Crag

Ullscarf, Eagle Crag & Sergeant's CragRevised
14.83 km · ~720 m ascent · loop · ~4–5.5 h
Summits: Lining CragUllscarfSergeant's CragEagle Crag

✎️ Walked and described first-hand by Lee. A serious round: the navigation over Ullscarf and Greenup Edge is boggy and featureless (a compass is essential in cloud), and the direct Eagle Crag line is steep and intricate — good-weather, sure-footed terrain. Carry OS Explorer OL4.

⬇️ Download GPX

⚠️ Warnings: The direct Eagle Crag route (described here in descent) is a steep, intricate line of rock terraces and a wet gully that guidebooks recommend for ascent only, and only in good weather — consider walking the round the other way to climb it, and avoid it altogether in the wet.; On Eagle Crag's terraces, don't go too far right where the terrace narrows above steep drops; sight each terrace before committing.; The Bleak How step-stile has a rotted lower step — a big step down; take care and lift or assist dogs.; Lining Crag's north face is near-vertical into Greenup Gill with little warning from the grassy top — keep back from the lip.; Greenup Edge and the Ullscarf plateau are boggy and featureless — serious navigation in mist; rely on the old fence posts, cairns and bearings.

Full route guide ↗

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

The View from Sergeant's 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 Sergeant's Crag33 labelled tops shown (1 distant behind the far-horizon toggle). Theoretical visibility in perfect clarity; computed from terrain, not photographed.eye levelNNEESESSWWNWScafell Pike · 7 kmSkiddaw · 18 kmBowfell · 6 kmPillar · 10 kmEsk Pike · 5 kmBlencathra · 17 kmCrinkle Crags · 7 kmGrasmoor · 13 kmCrag Hill · 12 kmHigh Stile · 11 kmGreen Gable · 6 kmGrisedale Pike · 14 kmDow Crag · 14 kmLooking Steads · 3 kmHigh Raise · 2 kmJenkin Hill · 16 kmLow White Stones · 2 kmClough Head · 13 kmUllscarf · 2 kmKnott · 22 kmGrey Knotts · 6 kmGreat Knott · 7 kmUllock Pike · 18 kmColdbarrow Fell · 2 kmHonister Crag · 7 kmHigh Seat · 7 kmMaiden Moor · 8 kmCarling Knott · 18 kmSeat How · 16 kmLow Saddle · 2 kmRosthwaite Fell · 2 kmLining Crag · 1 kmKing's How · 6 kmGreat End · 6 kmHobcarton Crag · 13 kmCold Pike · 8 kmIll Crag · 6 kmBlake Fell · 18 kmSouther Fell · 20 kmGlaramara · 3 kmCombe Head · 2 kmPike of Stickle · 4 kmDovenest Top · 2 kmWhite Stones · 6 kmShivery Knott · 4 kmCat Bells · 9 kmGreen Lowther · 107 km · a rare clear day
What you can see from Sergeant's Crag, by direction
  • North: Knowe Crags (16 km), Jenkin Hill (16 km), Skiddaw Lesser Man (16 km), Skiddaw Little Man (16 km), Gategill Fell Top (17 km), Carl Side (17 km), Blencathra (17 km), Doddick Fell (17 km), Skiddaw South Top (17 km), Skiddaw Middle Top (18 km), Skiddaw (18 km), Skiddaw North Top (18 km)
  • South: High Raise (2 km), Crinkle Crags (7 km), Crinkle Crags (7 km), Crinkle Crags (7 km), Crinkle Crags (7 km), Crinkle Crags South Top (7 km), Grey Friar (11 km), Dow Crag (14 km), Buck Pike (14 km)
  • South-west: Looking Steads (3 km), Esk Pike (5 km), Great End (6 km), Bowfell (6 km), Broad Crag (7 km), Scafell Pike (7 km)
  • West: Green Gable (6 km), High Crag (10 km), Pillar (10 km), High Stile (11 km), High Stile (11 km), Red Pike (12 km)
  • North-west: Dale Head (6 km), Sail (12 km), Wandope (12 km), Crag Hill (12 km), Hobcarton Crag (13 km), Grasmoor (13 km), Grisedale Pike (14 km)

On the clearest days the far horizon adds: Green Lowther (107 km, Scotland), Queensberry (93 km, Scotland), Ballencleuch Law (100 km, Scotland), Hods Hill (102 km, Scotland), White Hill (76 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 Sergeant's Crag

On a clear day — computed sightlines, curvature- and refraction-corrected.
60Wainwrights in view+6 marginal
—Sea in viewnone from here
All 60 Wainwrights in clear view (nearest first)

Eagle Crag, Ullscarf, Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot, High Raise (High White Stones), Glaramara, Great Crag (Stonethwaite), Pike of Stickle, Rossett Pike, Allen Crags, Grange Fell (Brund Fell), Castle Crag, Esk Pike, High Tove, Great End, Bowfell, Grey Knotts, Green Gable, Brandreth, High Spy, Dale Head, High Seat, Crinkle Crags - Long Top (Second Crinkle), Scafell Pike, Fleetwith Pike, Hindscarth, Cold Pike, Maiden Moor, Raven Crag, Bleaberry Fell, Cat Bells (Catbells), Pillar, Causey Pike, Grey Friar, High Stile, Scar Crags, Sail, Wandope, Red Pike (Buttermere), Crag Hill (Eel Crag), Clough Head, Grasmoor, Grisedale Pike, Dow Crag, Mellbreak (Mellbreak South Top), Hen Comb, Lonscale Fell, Dodd (Skiddaw), Skiddaw Little Man, Barf, Lord's Seat, Carl Side, Blencathra - Hallsfell Top, Long Side, Ullock Pike, Skiddaw, Blake Fell, Bannerdale Crags, Souther Fell, Knott, Binsey

How Sergeant's 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 Sergeant's Crag

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

Stonethwaite (roadside, limited) — 3.1 km from summit (straight line)
Small roadside area near the hamlet — Eagle Crag, Sergeant's Crag, Langstrath approaches.
Directions
🚺 Rosthwaite Village (1156m) — Free · Accessible☕ Peathouse Tea & Coffee Shop🍺 The Langstrath Inn
Seatoller (NT, paid) — 3.2 km from summit (straight line)
Pay & display at the foot of Honister. Bus terminus for Borrowdale.
Directions
🚺 Rosthwaite Village (1669m) — Free · Accessible🚺 Public toilets (1903m) — Free☕ Honisters Yew Tree Coffee House

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 Ullscarf, Eagle Crag & Sergeant's Crag route:

🚌 Stonethwaite Village (237 m)🚌 Chapel Howe Road End (375 m)🚌 Stonethwaite Road End (390 m)🚌 Longthwaite Road End (394 m)⛺ Chapel House Farm Campsite (322 m)

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

Buses to Sergeant's Crag from Penrith / Ambleside / Windermere

Stagecoach 78 “Borrowdale Rambler”
Keswick – Lodore – Grange – Rosthwaite – Seatoller
Catch it from: Keswick (connect via 555 or X4/X5)
Year-round, frequent in season. Serves all the Borrowdale starts — Glaramara, the Scafells and Great Gable via Seathwaite (alight Seatoller, 20 min walk up the lane).
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 Sergeant's 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 Sergeant's Crag

Hazard: Moderate

Eagle Crag's near neighbour above Langstrath in Borrowdale, with very steep crags falling to the valley and a direct line that involves a short, hands-on scramble through a gully with exposed rocky steps. Route-finding matters — it's no place to be in bad weather — and the plateau above toward Ullscarf is boggy and featureless. Keswick Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.

  • Steep Langstrath crags & the scramble: The Langstrath face is steep everywhere, and the direct ascent goes through a short gully needing hands-and-feet scrambling, with exposed rocky steps where people sometimes haul on grass. Careful route-finding is essential; attempt it only in dry, calm, clear conditions and with scrambling confidence.
  • Route-finding / staying off the crags: The crags are easy to get drawn into off-route, and steep ground can leave you cragfast. Don't descend the steep Langstrath face — use the gentler grassy ground — and keep to the line if you take the scramble up.
  • Boggy featureless plateau toward Ullscarf: Above the crag the ground becomes boggy and largely featureless toward Ullscarf, a navigation challenge in cloud. Take a compass bearing and pick careful lines through the bog.
Who should attempt this fell: Sergeant's Crag is a small fell with a steep, craggy face — if you take the scramble line, treat it as a proper hands-on scramble for the experienced in dry, clear conditions, and stay on the line. Don't descend the Langstrath crags; use gentler ground. Above, navigate the boggy plateau toward Ullscarf by compass, and save the crag for good weather.

Most common causes: Scramblers off-route or cragfast on the steep Langstrath face · Slips on the exposed rocky steps, especially when wet · Dangerous attempts to descend the crags rather than the grassy ground · Navigation errors on the boggy plateau toward Ullscarf in cloud

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

Navigating Sergeant's Crag in cloud

Care needed

A rough, rocky summit ringed by crags, with no single obvious way off in poor visibility. Take care in poor visibility — carry map and compass, and know how to use them.

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 Sergeant's 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 Sergeant's Crag

Maps & guidebooks for Sergeant's Crag

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