Caw Fell

By Lakeland standards Caw Fell is a long way from any road. It stands where the ridge between Ennerdale and Wasdale runs out west, and by this point the two valleys are about 10 km apart, with Blengdale and Worm Gill draining the ground between.

Most walkers come from Ennerdale. Park at the pay and display car park below Bowness Knott, at the end of the public road, and follow the track along the shore of Ennerdale Water. Cross Char Dub by the Irish Bridge and go through the Ling Mell plantations, where Galloway cattle graze to keep the bracken down. The Tongue End spur then climbs between Silvercove Beck and Deep Gill to the summit. Strong walkers make a day of it with Steeple, Scoat Fell and Haycock, following the wall west from Scoat Fell. That round is about 18 km with over 1,000 metres of ascent. From the south, a route from Bleng Bridge over Stockdale Moor is more than 8 km each way, and Grike and Crag Fell give an indirect approach from the Kinniside Stone Circle.

The paths are narrow and often hard to see among rock and heather. There is no scrambling on the usual routes, but the going is slow.

The cairn stands just north of the wall, and you need to cross it for the full view. With no higher fells close by, you see the Western Fells and the Scafells.

Iron and old settlements

Iron Crag Mine worked haematite below the crag of that name from about 1864 to 1896. It raised 500 tons in 1881 but never paid. Down the south west ridge, Stockdale Moor is scattered with burial mounds, hut circles and enclosures left by early settlers.