St Sunday Crag

Hill, Mountain in Westmorland Eden

England

St Sunday Crag

Climbing to Fairfield from Link Hause Once on the ridge that forms one side of the Fairfield horseshoe, there is little drop between the subsidiary summits of Dove Crag and Hart Crag and the main top. The first col is unnamed on the map, but north of Hart Crag is Link Hause and a short climb above Scrubby Crag to reach the summit area of Fairfield itself. Cairns may help route finding in thick weather, but this one doesn&#039;t seem to stand out well against its rocky background in ascent. It may be of more importance in descent when falling over Scrubby Crag is to be avoided. — Climbing to Fairfield from Link Hause Credit: Andy Waddington

St Sunday Crag, located in the county of Westmorland in the Lake District National Park, is a prominent hill and mountain standing at a height of 841 meters (2,760 feet). It is one of the most popular peaks in the area, attracting hikers and mountaineers from all over the world.

The summit of St Sunday Crag offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including Ullswater, the third largest lake in the Lake District. On a clear day, it is possible to see as far as the Scottish mountains to the north and the Isle of Man to the west.

The ascent to the top of St Sunday Crag can be challenging, with steep and rocky terrain. However, the reward is well worth the effort, as the vistas from the summit are truly awe-inspiring. The hill is often climbed as part of a longer route, such as the Fairfield Horseshoe, which takes in several other peaks in the area.

Wildlife enthusiasts will also find St Sunday Crag a haven for various bird species, including peregrine falcons and ravens. The area is also home to a variety of flora and fauna, with heather-covered slopes and rocky outcrops providing a habitat for rare alpine plants.

Overall, St Sunday Crag is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking stunning views, challenging hikes, and the chance to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Lake District.

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St Sunday Crag Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.511934/-2.9758786 or Grid Reference NY3613. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Climbing to Fairfield from Link Hause

Once on the ridge that forms one side of the Fairfield horseshoe, there is little drop between the subsidiary summits of Dove Crag and Hart Crag and the main top. The first col is unnamed on the map, but north of Hart Crag is Link Hause and a short climb above Scrubby Crag to reach the summit area of Fairfield itself. Cairns may help route finding in thick weather, but this one doesn't seem to stand out well against its rocky background in ascent. It may be of more importance in descent when falling over Scrubby Crag is to be avoided.

Andy Waddington

Contemplating the way on from Cofa Pike

Cofa Pike is a distinctly rough and rocky eminence, somewhat unnervingly loose if descending from Fairfield towards St. Sunday Crag. The dog is eyeing up the way on towards the next hill (as well she might, being a little unconfident as yet on scrambles, and unsure what is in store here). There's a very good scramble on the far end of St. Sunday Crag, but that was not our destination today, as we planned to drop into Deepdale via a path clearly shown on older maps, but which seems to have fallen into unpopularity in recent times. It is steep and loose at first, then boggy for much of its lower course, but has the great advantage from our point of view of actually leading back to our day's starting point near Brothers Water.

Andy Waddington

Path descending Deepdale

Deepdale doesn't, from a distance, seem particularly deep and the footpath (not a public right of way, but this is all CROW Access Land) wends its way rather boggily between moraines for much of the way. This section, however, is drier and perched above a minor gorge, which undoubtedly does look deep seen from this distance, with a number of cascades and general splashiness, much the sort of thing favoured by Gill Scramblers.

Andy Waddington

Path descending Deepdale

A less than distinct path (shown on older maps, but now intermittently missing on more recent mapping) drops steeply down from Deepdale Hause between Cofa Pike and St Sunday Crag, wending its way rather damply between moraines higher up the dale, then traversing above a gorge mid-dale before reaching this section, mostly dry underfoot, and on gentle slopes on the left bank of Deepdale Beck. Only when it meets the even fainter route down from the NE end of St Sunday Crag does it suddenly transform into a public right of way and become a much more convincing track.

Andy Waddington

Path beside Deepdale Beck

The path in the lower part of Deepdale (downstream of the rocky gorge) generally stays on boulder-studded slopes above the left bank of the beck, remaining a lot drier underfoot than the faint route in the upper dale which wends its way rather boggily between moraines. At the head of the dale, it is much steeper (and a bit loose in spots) just below Deepdale hause between Cofa Pike (a prominent eminence north of Fairfield, though somewhat dwarfed from this angle by the shady Greenhow End at the centre of the picture) and St. Sunday Crag. There are a number of crags, much loved by less famous climbers looking for new routes in the latter half of the twentieth century after the easier routes on bigger crags, and much harder lines elsewhere had long been claimed.

Andy Waddington

Path descending Deepdale

The path down Deepdale (or up it, if you are heading that way to reach any of a number of minor climbing crags) skirts the foot of St. Sunday Crag's unfrequented east spur and at this point, seems further from Deepdale Beck than it has been for much of the mile or so behind the photographer.

Andy Waddington

Path between Hart Crag and Fairfield

Gareth James

Summit stone shelter on Fairfield

Gareth James

Summit shelter on Fairfield

A roughly constructed shelter to protect resting passersby from wind on the exposed Lakeland summit.

Graham Robson

Looking to St Sunday Crag from Fairfield

Looking across the upland landscape from the top of Fairfield to St Sunday Crag.

Graham Robson

Fairfield summit plateau

The plateau at the top of Fairfield featuring several cairns and summit shelters.

Graham Robson

Low crag and broken wall on east side of Birks

The wall which descends from high on the hill is almost completely collapsed. Place Fell is at the centre of the image, Arnison Crag is nearer and to the right.

Trevor Littlewood

Ruthwaite Lodge

Ruthwaite Lodge was restored by the maintenance team of Outward Bound Ullswater. On 26th March 1993 it was dedicated to the memory of Richard Read and Mike Evans.

Tim Glover