Bannerdale Crags

Bannerdale Crags
Bannerdale Crags from Mungrisdale
Highest point
Elevation	683 m (2,241 ft)
Prominence	c. 37 m
Parent peak	Bowscale Fell
Listing	Wainwright, Hewitt, Nuttal
Coordinates	54°39′06″N 3°01′56″W / 54.65169°N 3.03217°W / 54.65169; -3.03217Coordinates: 54°39′06″N 3°01′56″W / 54.65169°N 3.03217°W / 54.65169; -3.03217
Geography
Bannerdale Crags Location in Lake District, UK
Location	Cumbria, England
Parent range	Lake District, Northern Fells
OS grid	NY335290
Topo map	OS Landranger 89, 90 OS Explorer OL5

Bannerdale Crags is a fell in the English Lake District. It stands between Blencathra and Bowscale Fell in the Northern Fells.

Bannerdale Crags is a ridge running north west to south east. The name was originally applied purely to the steep north eastern flank, but is now generally given to the fell as a whole.

A broad convex slope descends northward from Blencathra's Atkinson Pike top, gradually resolving into two ridges. The western arm continues to Mungrisdale Common while the north eastern limb, flecked with outcropping rock, falls to a steep sided col at 2,020 ft (620 m). From the depression Blackhazel Beck descends north west to join the River Caldew while the source of the Glenderamackin lies on the opposite slope. Across the col smooth slopes rise once more up the south western flank of the Bannerdale Crags ridge. There is little clue here to the wall of crags on the other side.

The north eastern side of the ridge looks down upon the valley of Bannerdale Beck, a tributary of the Glenderamackin. The crags on this side are almost continuous for a mile in length, the highest sections falling 600 ft (180 m) to the valley. The major breach is a spur protruding from the face almost below the summit, providing a fine route of ascent.(see below)

To the north the summit ridge continues across a broad grassy saddle to Bowscale Fell, the crags continuing a little way into the territory of the neighbouring fell. By contrast to the south east the fell ends in White Horse Bent, the abrupt ridge-end descent to the Glenderamackin. This river has one of the most convoluted passages in the district, passing around the south and east of Bannerdale Crags, before turning back on itself to surround Souther Fell on almost all sides and finally head west for Keswick and the River Derwent.

The summit of the fell is smooth and grassy, the highest point being set back from the crags and marked by a small cairn of flat stones. Nearer the face is another cairn, referred to on older large scale maps as a currick – a stone shelter built by shepherds. The view is surprisingly extensive, the Coniston Fells being in sight to the south, 20 miles (32 km) away. The Eastern and Far Eastern Fells are also in view, but the highlight is probably Sharp Edge and the eastern prospect of Blencathra.