Caw Fell: Height, Walks and Views in the Western Fells

Caw Fell is a broad, remote summit in the Western Fells, standing west of Haycock above the country between Ennerdale and Blengdale. At 697m, it offers a different experience from Lakeland’s sharper, more immediately recognisable peaks. Its appeal lies in the open upland ground, the surrounding fell country and the distance from roads: this is a summit that asks for a proper day out.

A broad summit west of Haycock

Caw Fell belongs to the western reaches of the high ground above Ennerdale. Haycock rises to its east, while Lank Rigg lies farther west. Rather than ending in a sharply defined rocky top, Caw Fell has a broad summit area, giving it a less dramatic outline than several of its neighbours. Its height is 697m, or 2,287ft, and its summit grid reference is NY132109.

The surrounding landscape is central to its character. Ennerdale lies to the north and Blengdale to the south, with higher fells gathering eastwards. In clear weather, the outlook takes in the western fell country and extends towards the Irish Sea. The interest is in that contrast between the higher interior of Lakeland and the more open country towards the coast.

Its place among the Western Fells

Caw Fell appears in The Western Fells, Book Seven of Alfred Wainwright’s A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells. It ranks 91st by height among the 214 Wainwrights. That puts it comfortably among the higher summits in the collection, despite its relatively understated profile and its position away from the best-known starting points.

Haycock, Seatallan, Steeple and Scoat Fell are among the neighbouring Wainwrights. They place Caw Fell within a substantial area of high western Lakeland, rather than as an isolated summit. Haycock is particularly important to understanding its position: the two are linked by high ground and are often considered together when planning a fell walk. Caw Fell should not be confused with Caw, the separate fell near the Duddon Valley.

Walks shaped by distance

Remoteness is one of Caw Fell’s defining qualities. Approaches from Ennerdale or the country around Blengdale involve a substantial walk, and adding neighbouring summits increases both the distance and the amount of ascent. It is worth looking at the whole outing rather than judging the day by the summit height alone.

This is open fell terrain, where low cloud can make a broad top less straightforward to navigate than its gentle outline suggests. A detailed map, suitable equipment and a current mountain weather forecast matter here. Dedicated route guides are the right place to compare approaches and assess their demands. For walkers who enjoy a longer day away from the busiest paths, Caw Fell’s quieter position is a large part of its appeal.

Where Caw Fell stands

Summit at grid reference NY132109 · open full map

The real Caw Fell

Walking Caw Fell

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

• Steeple, Scoat Fell, Haycock, and Caw Fell from Ennerdale (walklakes.co.uk)
• Walk Report - Lake District: Caw Fell and Haycock (walkhighlands.co.uk)
• Haycock (andrewswalks.co.uk)

Weather on Caw Fell

Conditions estimated at summit height (697 m) via Open-Meteo. For a walker's forecast, use the Mountain Weather Information Service.

Caw Fell on your wall

A painting of Caw Fell can recall the quieter side of western Lakeland: broad uplands, changing cloud and the long walk between summits. As a print or canvas at home, it offers a familiar connection to a fell whose character rewards time on foot.

Own “Striking Shadows on Caw Fell” — our painting of Caw Fell → or browse all Fells & Mountains artwork

Neighbouring Wainwrights in The Western Fells

• Haycock 797 m
• Seatallan 693 m
• Steeple 819 m
• Scoat Fell 841 m

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