Canisfamiliaris

Crinkle Crags - the very name stirs the imagination. AW says of this fell, ‘For the mountaineer who prefers his mountains rough …this is a climb deserving of high priority.’ And this is a walk to savour. At 2816’, this is one of the more challenging fells including the Bad Step taken in ascent on this walk. The walk takes in Pike o’ Blisco, a fine mountain in its own right, but the views of Crinkle Crags from the summit make the ascent even more worthwhile. Another short detour includes Cold Pike in the day's walk.

Crinkle Crags is popularly climbed from Old Dungeon Ghyll (NY 286061), but arrive at the car park early! My advice is not to struggle up Redacre Gill, but instead ascend the flanks of Side Pike via a newly engineered path and find a narrow trod, which contours the fell side before joining the more popular path up from Wall End. A well-made pitched path rises steeply to a plateau before the final rocky climb up to the summit. The cairn is not in the condition that AW found it in 1959, but it is an airy perch from which to appraise the rest of the walk, and the Crinkles are seen in all their glory. What a view!

Hard won height must be lost here if the objective is to be reached. An easy path drops down to Red Tarn where a detour is recommended across pathless grass to the rocky summit of Cold Pike; another good platform to view the Crinkles. Track back to a wide path which leads to the first Crinkle. A study of the ridge plan on Crinkle Crags p11 is recommended. Wainwright identifies five Crinkles, the second being the highest and therefore the summit. The way up on to the second Crinkle is either by the Bad Step, a ten-foot rock scramble, or by way of an easier gully to the left. AW admits the Bad Step is not an option for him, but the short climb gives an extra sense of achievement.

On a clear day the views from Long Top are magnificent, all the effort of the climb well rewarded. From this point the path crosses the summit plateau, but you will need to leave it to climb up on to the remaining Crinkles, where there are stunning views down into Oxendale and across to the Langdale Pikes.

After crossing the minor tops of Shelter Crags, the path drops down over rocks to Three Tarns where a choice has to be made. The obvious route descends The Band to Stool End farm, but an interesting and lesser-used route descends into Oxendale via Buscoe Sike and Hell Gill. In places the path is not clear, but follow the stream down as far as Hell Gill. In late summer the rowan trees are a picture. Descend into Oxendale and walk back to the starting point.

Here is a welcome Walkers Bar where one can enjoy a drink whilst reflecting on a marvellous day on the fells. Photos

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THE PICTORIAL GUIDES

The Eastern Fells
The Far Eastern Fells
The Central Fells
The Southern Fells
The Northern Fells
The North Western Fells
The Western Fells

The 214 Challenge