Allen Crags – Lake District Walks
November 30, 2023
Our first sighting of Allen Crags was this shot from Sprinkling Tarn. In the cloud. Not the day to make an ascent, but looking at the amazing scenery around us, definitely a reason to return. Mr Wainwright describes Allen Crags as a fell that’s often “left for another day“. He has a point. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone remark on the amazing views or fantastic hike of Allen Crags. It’s not mentioned much. But as Wainwright says, it’s “of respectable height, of distinct merit as viewpoints and in a fine situation“. Off we go then.
Know before you go:
- Allen Crags is number 43 in Wainwright’s fells at 2572 feet (784 meters).
- Starting from Seathwaite, parking is limited and a lot is on the road. On a busy day arrive early as this is a popular start point for Scafell Pike.
- Added bonus, there are bathrooms at Seathwaite.
- Making a circular that involves coming down via Glaramara is “a good expedition of moderate length”. A total walk of 12.8km, which took us 5 hours.
- Glaramara, although a more recognized fell, is actually number 44 of Wainwright’s fells at a slightly lower 2569 feet (783 meters). The depression between the two adds another 500 feet of undulating ascent with several “summits” not actually being the one of Glaramara. We got there eventually.
The route to Allen Crags
“Any walk that leads up the fine valley of Grains Gill is bound to prove worth while”. Thank you Mr Wainwright, and as our main objective is Allen Crags, starting from Seathwaite seemed the perfect route. Nicely stoned and stepped, first along Grains Gill and then along Ruddy Gill before a final ascent to the summit.
The views from Allen Crags
The ridge route to Glaramara
It looked so close, but offered a few “false” tops, where we thought we were on our final ascent only to discover at the top that Glaramara was still another mountain away. After undulating for 1.75 miles and past some beautiful tarns we finally hit our final peak before descending back down to Seathwaite.
