Bannerdale Crags: 684.1m Height, Walks and Views

Bannerdale Crags has two quite different faces: open, grassy upland towards the west and a steep, crag-lined edge above Bannerdale to the east. Standing at 684.1 metres, it belongs to the quieter country beside Blencathra, where broad ridges make rewarding links between neighbouring summits. Walkers value it for that contrast, and for a close view of Blencathra that gives its ridges and gullies room to stand out.

A grassy summit above the crags

The name belongs as much to the fell’s eastern edge as to its summit. Above Bannerdale, the ground breaks into steep crags, giving this side a much more abrupt profile than the broad upland behind it. From the western approaches, that rocky character is less obvious: grass and rounded slopes dominate. The contrast is the key to understanding Bannerdale Crags, rather than expecting a sharply pointed summit.

The highest point stands at 684.1 metres, or 2,244 feet, at grid reference NY335290. Much of the summit ground is open and grassy, but the crag edge is a reminder that a rounded fell can still have serious drops. Cloud can remove both the views and the visual distinction between the broad top and its steeper margins, so navigation matters here just as it does on more conspicuously rugged ground.

Bannerdale Crags in the Northern Fells

Bannerdale Crags appears in Alfred Wainwright’s The Northern Fells, Book Five of his seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. It ranks 97th by height among the 214 Wainwrights. Its neighbours are Bowscale Fell, Blencathra, Souther Fell and Mungrisdale Common, placing it in the group of fells north and east of Blencathra rather than among the higher central Lakeland ranges.

Bowscale Fell lies to the north, while Mungrisdale Common occupies the broad ground to the west. Blencathra rises to the south-west, and Souther Fell stands towards the eastern side of the group. These relationships explain why Bannerdale Crags often features in rounds taking in more than one Wainwright. Mungrisdale village is a familiar starting point for walks in this group, with dedicated route guides covering the different combinations and their demands.

Views towards Blencathra and beyond

Blencathra is the commanding presence in the view. From Bannerdale Crags, its northern and eastern features are seen across the intervening ground, with Sharp Edge among the recognisable details. It is a useful viewpoint for appreciating Blencathra as a complex fell of ridges and corries, rather than only the familiar skyline seen from the A66.

Closer at hand, the sweep of Bannerdale and the neighbouring ridges gives the outlook its depth. In clear conditions, the view extends east towards the Pennines. Bannerdale Crags is less celebrated than Blencathra, but its combination of a grassy summit, an abrupt eastern face and a strong outlook towards its higher neighbour gives it a distinct identity.

Where Bannerdale Crags stands

Summit at grid reference NY335290 · open full map

The real Bannerdale Crags

Walking Bannerdale Crags

We make artwork, not route guides — these are the guides we'd point a friend to:

• Guide links to be curated.

Weather on Bannerdale Crags

Conditions estimated at summit height (684 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Bannerdale Crags on your wall

A painting of Bannerdale Crags can bring home that familiar contrast between open fell and broken rock. Whether it recalls a round from Mungrisdale or a pause looking towards Blencathra, a print or canvas keeps a particular stretch of northern Lakeland close at hand.

Own “Bannerdale Crags Winter Sunlight” — our painting of Bannerdale Crags → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Northern Fells

• Bowscale Fell 702 m
• Blencathra 868 m
• Souther Fell 522 m
• Mungrisdale Common 632 m

Part of our guide to all 214 Wainwrights — see the full index.