High Crag

High Crag rises to 744 meters at the southern end of the High Stile ridge, dividing the valleys of Ennerdale and Buttermere in the western Lake District. The summit displays two distinct stone cairns, with the southern one marking the true peak.

Mining operations occurred beneath Low Wax Knott during the late 1800s, where two miners lived in a hut until one experienced an unexplained death. This period of extraction shaped the landscape and history of these uplands.

The High Stile ridge that includes this summit forms part of traditional fell walking routes shaped by generations of climbers in the Lake District. Visitors today walk the same paths that mountain enthusiasts have used for many decades.

Hikers can reach this summit via the Scarth Gap path from Gatesgarth parking area or through an alternative route starting at Black Sail youth hostel. The ascent is demanding and requires good preparation with suitable equipment for mountain conditions.

Below the summit, Gamlin End features substantial scree slopes formed through millennia of weathering and erosion. These loose stone and rocky flanks reveal the ongoing geological processes shaping these uplands.

Location: Buttermere

Location: Ennerdale and Kinniside

Elevation above the sea: 744 m

GPS coordinates: 54.51461,-3.26740

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43