Ullscarf, Eagle Crag & Sergeant's Crag

Stonethwaite → Lining Crag (4.2 km, 439 m)

Climb of about 439 m over 4.2 km (around 10% average).

Lining Crag → Ullscarf (2.3 km, 191 m)

Climb of about 191 m over 2.3 km (around 8% average).

Decision point: From Lining Crag continue SE/S onto the broad, boggy plateau of Greenup Edge. The fence on the map is gone — follow the faint line of old metal posts and a vague trod between the bogs, picking the drier hummocks. Where a clearer path climbs onto drier grass, follow it toward the Ullscarf ridge. At a path split just past the worst bog, take the LEFT fork — the dry short-cut across a fence corner — which rejoins the post-line higher up (note this re-join point; you use it on the way back). Then climb roughly SSE to Ullscarf's small summit cairn on its anonymous plateau.

Easy to get wrong: Greenup Edge and the Ullscarf plateau are notoriously boggy and featureless — in poor visibility this is serious compass-and-pacing ground; leave the path and you drift into trackless bog. Take the LEFT (dry) fork at the split, not the right fork that stays in the bogs, and fix the re-join point in your memory for the return.

Ullscarf → Sergeant's Crag (4.1 km, 59 m)

About 4.1 km with 59 m of ascent.

Decision point: Retrace NW from the cairn beside the old posts; at the familiar fence-corner split take the dry short-cut again (bear right) back onto Greenup Edge. On the plateau pick up the cairns heading NW/W toward the Greenup Gill descent — aim for a large rocky knoll with a distinctive summit fence post, bear right in front of it skirting a bog, and pick up a cairn marking the route. Drop gently toward the boggy head of Greenup Gill below Long Crag, swinging left beneath Long Crag's bulk (little more than hints of trod — navigate by terrain, above the worst bog, below the crags) until you meet the wall and path at the saddle between Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag; the last short climb to Sergeant's Crag is straightforward.

Easy to get wrong: There's almost no path across the head of Greenup Gill — keep above the bog and below the outcrops, and use the wall as a handrail once you reach it. In mist the cairns and the knoll's fence post are the key markers; this is the easiest place on the round to lose the line.

Sergeant's Crag → Eagle Crag (1.0 km, 7 m)

Descent of about 49 m over 1.0 km.

Decision point: From Sergeant's small summit cairn (a short path off the wall), continue over the top and bear slightly left down to a ladder stile over the wall — the far side is steep, descend carefully. Follow the faint path skirting the peaty head of Greenup Gill toward Eagle Crag, keeping to the RIGHT (west) side of the wall when you meet it. Follow the wall and main trod ~300 m over mostly good turf; where the path bears away from the wall, follow it to Eagle Crag's modest summit cairn on its sloping rock.

Easy to get wrong: When you meet the wall, keep to its RIGHT (west) side — ignore any ladder stile that would put you on the wrong side for the Eagle Crag line. The far side of the Sergeant's Crag ladder stile is steep.

Eagle Crag → Finish (3.2 km, 25 m)

Descent of about 405 m over 3.2 km.

Decision point: From Eagle Crag's cairn take the clear path NE off the top, dropping toward the rock terraces above Heron Crag. Thread the terraces — generally favour the central / slightly-left line where a short rocky step links them — gravitating toward the gully below. Descend the short (often wet) gully using hands for balance; at its foot bear left onto a grass-and-heather knoll, then down to the saddle behind Bleak How and the step-stile over the fence. Below the stile turn right down steep grass / bracken close to the wall, above the enclosed woodland, through a hole in the wall into the field; bear left round the field edge skirting a marshy patch, through the gates back to the bridleway by the Greenup Gill footbridge, and reverse your outward route to Stonethwaite Bridge — left across it and back up the lane to the phone box.

Easy to get wrong: This direct Eagle Crag line is really an ascent route — guidebooks say not to descend it, and not in poor weather (see the warnings; consider walking the round the other way to climb it instead). On the terraces, sight each one before committing — ground that felt fine on the way up looks exposed coming down — and don't go too far right where the terrace narrows above big drops. At Bleak How the step-stile's lower step has rotted away, leaving a big drop — take care and lift/assist dogs. The steep grass/bracken below is slippery when wet; stay close to the wall.