Eel Crag by the Shelf Route

Overview

1->2->3->4->5->6->2->1

LOCATION                           HEIGHT             DIST              ASCT            EST TIME

OS Grid                                Metres              Km                Metres

1                  NY 227 237                            133

Quarry CP

Parking place about 300 metres up the Whinlatter Pass from Braithwaite, in a small quarry on the left.

1->2                                                                                      0.20                   2                3 mins

2                  NY 227 235                            110

Start of Coledale Beck path

2->3                                                                                      4.12               315                1 hr, 33 mins

Take the mine road to Coledale, protected by a vehicle barrier.

Continue for 2 miles.  When the Force Crag mine comes into view, take the 4x4 track descending to the left and ford Coledale Beck.

Follow the track up the hillside to the top of Low Force waterfall, where the path levels out.

3                  NY 196 211                            410

Turn off for shelf and Tower Ridge

3->4                                                                                      0.52               118                20 mins

There's a marshy depression to the left.

Cross the marshy area below screes on the right, keeping the stream to your left until reaching the far end of the screes.

4                  NY 195 208                            528

4->5                                                                                      1.10               315                48 mins

Having avoided the screes, continue up the hill, trending right above the scree.  The ground becomes more rocky and about 200 metres after leaving the scree behind the ridge (Tower Ridge) becomes more defined at 193 207.

The Shelf route traverses up at a gentle angle to the right, eventually meeting the path from Coledale Hause for the final plod to the top of Eel Crag (aka Crag Hill).

5                  NY 192 203                            828

Crag Hill

5->6                                                                                      2.34               121                47 mins

Head east across an airy ridge to the summit of Sail.   Descend steeply to Sail Pass.

Turn left past old Cobalt mine workings.  (Right would take you up over Causey Pike.)   The path levels out on High Moss to reach a small cairn.

6                  NY 210 213                            529

Cairn

6->2                                                                                      4.35               151                1 hr, 20 mins

A faint path to the left leads over marshy ground to the slopes of Outerside after about 100 metres.

Climb to the summit of Outerside on a faint track.

Continue ahead to Stile End before dropping right to Barrow Door (a pass), then east up the gentle slopes of Barrow.

Descend down easy paths to the Fleshpots of Braithwaite village.  Notably the Coledale Inn.

2                  NY 227 235                            110

Start of Coledale Beck path

2->1                                                                                      0.18               23                 5 mins

1                  NY 227 237                            133

Name: Quarry CP

Total trip                                                                         12.81            1,046               4 hrs, 56 mins

Based on 4 kph, plus an hour for each 600 metres ascent.