Blakeley Raise, Grike, Crag Fell, Whoap and Lank Rigg
A walk south of Ennerdale Water over undulating high fells with great views throughout, taking in Blakeley Raise, Grike, Crag Fell, Whoap, and Lank Rigg.
Summary: This walk in the far west of the Lake District visits a series of interesting fell tops, offering superb views of Ennerdale Water and Pillar from Crag Fell, and vast vistas across the Irish Sea and Solway Firth from Lank Rigg. While never precipitous, it is an undulating and invigorating walk across high moorland.
The Walk Report
Living in Yorkshire, it is only when I visit the Lake District for an overnight stay that the far west of the region is within easy reach. Having a few days to spare in November, I planned a four-day walking break in the National Park and designed this route as a shorter warmup walk.
After an early-morning drive over from Harrogate, I arrived just before lunchtime and parked in a convenient pull-in near Scaly Moss. Setting off on the open fellside of Blakeley Moss, I intended to follow a straight course through the plantation to Grike. Instead, I missed the gate, veered right, and enjoyed the bonus of ascending to the rounded summit of Blakeley Raise. No harm done in the short detour!
Blakeley Moss Stone CircleThe view north-east from Blakeley Raise
The fell-top country surrounding me was brown with hints of green, typical of Lakeland uplands in late autumn. Descending from Blakeley Raise to the hollow of Kinney How, I followed a vehicular timber track before heading up through a short section of wood stumps to access the upper slopes of Grike.
Reaching the substantial cairns on Grike's summit, I chatted with a couple from Devon who had recently moved to Ennerdale for its superior walking choices compared to Dartmoor.
Grike as seen from Blakeley RaiseThe summit of Grike
Descending Grike eastward toward Crag Fell, I was heartened by the west-facing profile of Pillar, dusted with a sugar-icing coating of snow. Pillar's magnificent rounded dome is unfamiliar from this angle, as it usually hides behind other fells.
Climbing the grassy slope of Crag Fell brought breathtaking views east over Ennerdale Water and Gillerthwaite. From here, I could trace the ridge of Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag, and Haystacks from my Coast to Coast walk in 1999.
The path from Grike to Crag FellPillar and Steeple as viewed from the west
Looking down on Ennerdale Water from Crag FellHeading south from Crag Fell to Whoap
Leaving Crag Fell, the terrain contrasted sharply as I crossed a short stretch of moorland and a quagmire of felled plantation eased by wooden pallets. Climbing on good turf ground brought me to Whoap, a hill with no distinct shape but an appealing name.
From Whoap, a clear path led over a kilometer down 80 metres and back up 100 metres to Lank Rigg (541m), the highest point of the walk.
Water hazards in the felled woodlandLank Rigg as seen from Whoap
The view westward from Lank Rigg demanded attention, featuring man-made giants like Sellafield Nuclear Power Station six miles south, and Walney Island's offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. Looking north-west toward Dumfries and Galloway across the Solway Firth provided a stunning natural contrast.
The summit trig point on Lank RiggOn reflection
Descending to Lankrigg Moss, the ground became wetter, but stepping-stone tussocks kept my feet largely out of trouble. After crossing the River Calder and climbing Bomery Gill, I reached the Ennerdale Bridge to Calder Bridge road as dusk fell. Walking back past Sillathwaite Wood at Scaly Moss, I caught a final glimpse of the picturesque Uldale valley before completing my walk.
The way home from Lank RiggRiver Calder at Lankrigg Moss
Line of commuting traffic near Sillathwaite WoodUldale
