Wandope, Crag Hill and Sail, walk in the Coledale Fells

Thursday 21st March 2024

Wandope, Crag Hill and Sail, walk in the Coledale Fells.

A wet and windy one today, I probably would have done a longer walk adding in a few more of the fells in this area (Scar Crags , Causey Pike etc.) - but it was persistent rain and the very high winds meaning the usual enjoyment was reduced considerably due to the conditions. I had gambled on the forecast on weatherline being correct, which looked like I may escape the worst of the weather, but no - I got drenched, waterproofs on all day long and water always seems to find a way in somehow.

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Distance: 8.6 miles

Duration: 4:30 hours

Ascent: 3025 ft

Difficulty: Hard

Accompanied By: On my Own

Weather: Rain and Windy

Wainwrights Visited

Eel Crag/Crag Hill Sail Wandope

3D outline of route

Parking

Parked up just outside Braithwaite on the Winlatter Pass roadside. The path I took is just on the right.

Only light rain at first - but still enough to get the waterproofs on - maybe it will pass !

Looking back down the path as I head off into the woods.

Braithwaite down below.

Picking up the Force Crag Mine track as I head into Coledale.

Almost at the head of the valley now, with Sail to my left and Crag Hill/Eel Crag in the distance.

Crossing Coledale Beck

Force Crag Mine.

The North East face of Eel Crag.

Arriving at Coledale Hause, the wind whipped up even more and although it doesn't look like it, I was getting blasted by a barrage of rain blown in on a 40mph south-westerly.

Trudging on and into the clag, I have Grasmoor to my right and Eel Crag to my left - if I could see them of course.

First Wainwright of the day - Wandope.

Doesn't look like much from here, the route across to it is akin to the much maligned Mungrisedale Common surrounding area. But all is not what it seems.

A brief break in the cloud cover reveals a very impressive and shapely Wandope.

I then skirted round the edge following a path that leads directly onto Crag Hill.

Looking down towards Knott Rigg.

It's not easy taking photographs in torrential rain and gale force winds - but here is the summit of Eel Crag/Crag Hill. Under normal circumstances, I'd have a wander over to the slightly lower 'top' on Eel Crag, but this wasn't normal circumstances.

Heading down to the col between Crag Hill and Sail with a very unhelpful side wind. Not a time to go airborne

Looking back up the ridge.

Sail summit - nothing much to shout about here.

Time now to stroll down the 'zig-zags' of Sail. Had hoped that over the years this would gradually blend in and not be as prominent. Nope - It still looks awful, and spoils this tremendous ridge walk.