Start point - Birker Fell road by
Freeze Beck (SD 184959)
Summits Achieved
Name
Height (ft)
Height (m)
Grid Ref
Great Worm Crag
1400
427
SD 1937 9688
White How on
Birker Fell
1457
444
SD 2050 9744
Green Crag
1604
489
SD 2001 9827
Crook Crag
1539
469
SD 1999 9874
Great Whinscale
1394
425
SD 1980 9896
Kepple Crag
1076
328
SD 1988 9990
Broad Crag on Birker Fell
1220
372
SD 1950 9784
Great Crag on Birker Fell
1109
338
SD 1864 9781
Preface
"It's Bank Holiday, so I
wonder if Dad will be taking us walking?", mused Shaun.
"I think he will, but probably
to some more remote area", replied Tetley.
"I'll go and ask",
volunteered Allen.
He was soon back to report.
"We're doing Birker Fell,
which is great as we will tick off Great Worm Crag, one of the
few remaining Outlying Fells, and also quite few Birkett tops."
"Magic", cried Grizzly.
"Can't wait for tomorrow."
The Walk
It is a lovely drive to get to the
start of this walk. Once past Broughton in Furness, we turned up
the beautiful Duddon Valley, We have been along here many times
but never tire of the scenery. Above Ulpha towers The Pike,
climbed in February 2006.
Beyond Ulpha Bridge we turned left
onto the Birker Fell road climbing steeply up. To our left was
Hesk Fell, climbed on the same day as The Pike. Dad parked on the
verge just south of Freeze Beck, then walked as directed in the
book along the left bank (true right), to gain a sort of track
that climbed right of Rough Crag. The first objective, Great Worm
Crag was now in full view.
A steady ascent soon brought us to
the summit. One of our few remaining Outlying Fells was bagged at
last. There is a neat cairn, seen here with Devoke Water in the
distance. The rounded hill just to its right is called Seat How.
We had climbed this in March 2005, as part of the "Circuit
of Devoke Water " walk.
While away north-east the rocky and
craggy ridge of Birker Fell stretched away.
This is real Lakes scenery and we
looked forward to the traverse we were to make. The highest point
is Green Crag, and to the left Crook Crag. We were to climb these
successively a little later. The lower hill in the foreground is
Broad Crag, one for later in the day.
Further to the right is the
dominant Harter Fell, standing even higher as you can see in the
picture below. The walker is standing on Far Hill and immediately
behind is White How the next top on our round.
First, we descended gently, then
crossing to a shoulder to the right, a steady ascent brought us
to the rocky summit of White How. To the left Green Crag our next
objective towered up, its slopes catching the sun. There was a
clear path that climbed to pass a number of craggy towers, to the
last topped by a small cairn, being the top of Green Crag (this a
Wainwright and bagged by Little Eric). It is about time we put in
an appearance, don't you think? Again Devoke Water can be dimly
seen in the distance.
Dad spent a little time here
chatting to other walkers. Then settling us into the rucksack, we
headed on along the path. In the col just off the path stands
this stone. It marks the boundary between the parishes of Eskdale
& Ulpha.
Passing below the next craggy tower
the Pike, we soon then ascended to Crook Crag, with its rocky
spine of a summit. A little hollow provided an ideal place for us
to pose for our picture.
Next was Great Whinscale. Dad
thought this was just the next cairned top, but not the case as
indicated by his GPS. It was instead a rather unprepossessing top
down to the left.
"Where now?", enquired
Shaun.
"Kepple Crag", replied
Dad.
He headed off towards what he
thought was Kepple Crag, but admitted that he allowed his own
preconceptions to rule, and not study the map closely enough and
read the text in the book. He should have gone more to the left,
but instead we were headed towards what is called Dow Crag. This
meant we had to clamber down the crags to gain the correct route.
"Well", said Tetley.
"It added some extra interest to the walk if nothing else."
Finally on the correct path we made
it to Kepple Crag, and the point as indicated on the map and by
grid reference on Dad's GPS. However we could not help thinking
that the rocky turret beyond the ravine should really be the top.
There was now a long traverse below
Crook Crag etc, to the next objective Broad Crag. It was pretty
hard going as the terrain was rough boggy and trackless. We came
across one of our wonderful Herdwicks, that kindly posed for Dad.
Yes, we know we keep including pictures of them, but we so like
them and they are synonymous with the Lake District.
Yet again Dad admitted that he let
his own preconceptions rule, so made this harder. What he thought
was Broad Crag was actually Silver How. Also we were too low down,
thus meaning we had to climb over the ridge of Silver How,
instead of being above it. We nearly said "come on get your
act together." However Dad doesn't often get off track and
it would have been rather unfair. Once over the ridge Broad Crag
came into view and the summit was soon achieved. There are in
fact three little tops comprising this hill, so Dad utilised the
GPS, to guide us to the correct one. That done it was just a half
mile over slightly easier ground to the rocky cairned tor of
Great Crag, accessed through one of the many gaps in the ruined
wall.
Here Dad took our last picture of
the day.
Descending, recrossed the wall and
headed towards Rough Crag, keeping high to try to avoid the bog.
Rounding Rough Crag we could see the car, and Dad headed over
more bog to pick up the path used at the outset to reach the road.
A good walk, but hard going at times through the bogs. We must
say that we had great views all the time from this walk over to
Harter Fell, other higher Lakeland Fells, and out to the coast.
From the summit bagging viewpoint a good day - 1 Outlyer and 7
Birketts, not forgetting that Little Eric also bagged Green Crag
as a Wainwright.
Refreshment time now. Dad went to
Jane and Sam's and of course we got to go in too. He arrived in
time for tea and the last of Jane's gorgeous individual home made
lemon meringue pies (Uncle Brian had had the first last Thursday).
Scrumptious!!! This is one of his favourite tea stops. The food
is always excellent and we recommend it unreservedly.