30th May 2024 - Tarn Crag to Steel Fell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.1 miles
Total ascent: 2792 ft
OS map used: OL7 - The English Lakes, Southeastern area, OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area & OL5 - The English Lakes, Northeastern area
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A591 outside Grasmere-Grasmere-Easedale Road-Easedale-Sourmilk Gill-Easedale Tarn-Tarn Crag-Broadstone Head-Brownrigg Moss-Calf Crag-Steel Fell-Ghyll Foot-Easedale Road-Grasmere-Layby on A591 outside Grasmere
Better weather at last! I made the short drive south across the Pass of Dunmail Raise to Grasmere this morning for a walk in the Central Fells. Two Wainwrights to the northwest of Grasmere that I needed for my second round were Tarn Crag (just one previous visit in 2006) and Steel Fell (last visited in 2009), so I worked out a route that would take in both. Starting from Grasmere I made my way up Easedale to Easedale Tarn, then went up to the top of Tarn Crag before crossing the head of Far Easedale to Calf Crag, and the head of Greenburn Bottom to Steel Fell. I made my way back down Steel Fell's southeast ridge and along lanes to Easedale Road and Grasmere. I walked in this area the last time I stayed in the Lakes in May 2022, when I did the Calf Crag to Helm Crag ridge. It would be a long and convoluted walk that tried to take in that as well as what I did today. The forecast was for a dry day (fingers crossed), quite cloudy at times, and a strong wind that would gradually ease down during the day. That was the way it turned out, and the spells of warm sunshine were most welcome after the past couple of damp days.
After parking in the large layby on the A591 just outside Grasmere I crossed the A591 and took the footpath to Grasmere, then walked north through the village and up Easedale Road. When I reached a right-hand bend as the road heads up to Lancrigg I took a bridleway on the left, which I followed up Easedale to Easedale Tarn. I then crossed the outflow of the tarn and took the footpath towards Stythwaite Steps, before leaving it for a path up Tarn Crag's east ridge to the summit of Tarn Crag, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way west and northwest across the moor until I reached a line of old fence posts, which took me north to Broadstone Head and Brownrigg Moss at the top of Far Easedale. Once across Brownrigg Moss I had a short climb to reach the summit of Calf Crag. From Calf Crag I made my way north and then east along the ridge to Steel Fell, and after taking in the view I descended Steel Fell's southeast ridge to the lane at Ghyll Foot. A walk south along this lane took me back to Easedale Road and Grasmere, and from there I made my way back to the layby on the A591 where I'd parked my car.
Total ascent: 2792 ft
OS map used: OL7 - The English Lakes, Southeastern area, OL6 - The English Lakes, Southwestern area & OL5 - The English Lakes, Northeastern area
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Layby on A591 outside Grasmere-Grasmere-Easedale Road-Easedale-Sourmilk Gill-Easedale Tarn-Tarn Crag-Broadstone Head-Brownrigg Moss-Calf Crag-Steel Fell-Ghyll Foot-Easedale Road-Grasmere-Layby on A591 outside Grasmere
Better weather at last! I made the short drive south across the Pass of Dunmail Raise to Grasmere this morning for a walk in the Central Fells. Two Wainwrights to the northwest of Grasmere that I needed for my second round were Tarn Crag (just one previous visit in 2006) and Steel Fell (last visited in 2009), so I worked out a route that would take in both. Starting from Grasmere I made my way up Easedale to Easedale Tarn, then went up to the top of Tarn Crag before crossing the head of Far Easedale to Calf Crag, and the head of Greenburn Bottom to Steel Fell. I made my way back down Steel Fell's southeast ridge and along lanes to Easedale Road and Grasmere. I walked in this area the last time I stayed in the Lakes in May 2022, when I did the Calf Crag to Helm Crag ridge. It would be a long and convoluted walk that tried to take in that as well as what I did today. The forecast was for a dry day (fingers crossed), quite cloudy at times, and a strong wind that would gradually ease down during the day. That was the way it turned out, and the spells of warm sunshine were most welcome after the past couple of damp days.
After parking in the large layby on the A591 just outside Grasmere I crossed the A591 and took the footpath to Grasmere, then walked north through the village and up Easedale Road. When I reached a right-hand bend as the road heads up to Lancrigg I took a bridleway on the left, which I followed up Easedale to Easedale Tarn. I then crossed the outflow of the tarn and took the footpath towards Stythwaite Steps, before leaving it for a path up Tarn Crag's east ridge to the summit of Tarn Crag, where I stopped for lunch. After this break I made my way west and northwest across the moor until I reached a line of old fence posts, which took me north to Broadstone Head and Brownrigg Moss at the top of Far Easedale. Once across Brownrigg Moss I had a short climb to reach the summit of Calf Crag. From Calf Crag I made my way north and then east along the ridge to Steel Fell, and after taking in the view I descended Steel Fell's southeast ridge to the lane at Ghyll Foot. A walk south along this lane took me back to Easedale Road and Grasmere, and from there I made my way back to the layby on the A591 where I'd parked my car.
Route map
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Leaving Grasmere by Easedale Road
A great display of buttercups in the neighbouring field
Following the bridleway up Easedale and I can see Sourmilk Gill in the distance
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Sourmilk Gill as I climb the bridleway up to Easedale Tarn..
Looking back down to Grasmere
Easedale Tarn is just beyond the rise ahead
By the shores of Easedale Tarn..
From Easedale Tarn I take the footpath to Stythwaite Steps, but leave it for the path up Tarn Crag's east ridge
Looking back down Easedale to Grasmere from Greathead Crag
and across Easedale Tarn to Great Castle How and Blea Rigg
The summit of Tarn Crag is straight ahead. Before I reach it I'm going to visit the top of the crag to its left.
There's a bird's eye view of Easedale Tarn from the top of the crag
Taking in the view from the summit of Tarn Crag. To the north Ullscarf rises above the Calf Crag to Helm Crag ridge on the other side of Far Easedale.
Looking across Far Easedale to the Calf Crag to Helm Crag ridge, with Steel Fell behind that, and Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance..
..and east down Easedale to Grasmere
Finally, Blea Rigg, Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark to the south, with the Coniston fells in the distance
I leave Tarn Crag by following trods west and northwest across the moor towards Broadstone Head
I soon get a view of Codale Tarn to my left
and of Helvellyn and Fairfield in the distance beyond Steel Fell and the Calf Crag to Helm Crag ridge
I meet a line of rusting fenceposts which I follow north to Broadstone Head
Along the way I pass an unnamed tarn with flowering bogbean in it
I follow a path down a gully, and then across Brownrigg Moss towards Calf Crag..
To my right I have a view down Far Easedale, with the crags of Deer Bields on the right
On the summit of Calf Crag
Looking back across Brownrigg Moss to Greenup Edge. I made my way across the slopes on the left from Tarn Crag.
and down Far Easedale, with Tarn Crag above Deer Bields on the right
I leave Calf Crag and head for Steel Fell
Looking down the valley of Green Burn
As I reach the climb to the top of Steel Fell, a short detour gives me this great view across Wyth Burn to Nab Crags and the southern end of Thirlmere
Looking back along the ridge to Calf Crag with High Raise in the distance
Follow the fence to the top of Steel Fell
A cairn and rusting fencepost marks the summit of Steel Fell. Taking in the view, starting with the rounded dome of Ullscarf to the west.
High Raise and Greenup Edge to the southwest and west
Looking south to Silver How and Blea Rigg, with the Coniston fells in the distance
and down the Vale of Grasmere to Windermere in the distance
Finally, looking north up Thirlmere to Skiddaw and Blencathra
Making my way down Steel Fell's southeast ridge to the Vale of Grasmere, with Helm Crag on the right
Looking across Greenburn Bottom to the Helm Crag to Calf Crag ridge, with Blea Rigg and Tarn Crag behind
The Pass of Dunmail Raise
Down to the base of the ridge at Ghyll Foot..
Looking up the valley of Green Burn
From Ghyll Foot I walk south along the lane towards Grasmere
Looking back to Steel Fell
and across the Vale of Grasmere to Heron Pike and Grasmere
A last look back along the lane to Seat Sandal
Back in Grasmere