Iron Crag

Iron Crag is a mountain in the English Lake District, standing between Crag Fell and Caw Fell.[1] The name of the fell is the source of some confusion, as the summit is unnamed on Ordnance Survey maps. Iron Crag apparently refers to the rocky outcrop below the summit, while the lower slopes are referred to as Ennerdale Fell. The Western aspect of the lower slopes, facing Ennerdale Water is known as The Side.

For the Iron Crag above the Duddon Valley, see Birker Fell.

Iron Crag
Iron Crag from Caw Fell
Highest point
Elevation640 m (2,100 ft)[1]
Prominence54 m (177 ft)[1]
Parent peakPillar
ListingHewitt, Nuttall, Fellranger, Simm, Birkett, Synge, Buxton & Lewis, Bridge
Coordinates54°29′43″N 3°21′18″W
Geography
Iron Crag is located in the Lake District
Iron Crag
Iron Crag
Parent rangeLake District, Western Fells
OS gridNY123119
Topo mapOS Landranger 89, 90, Explorer OL4, OL6
Listed summits of Iron Crag
NameGrid refHeightStatus
Boat HowNY111136363 m

Topography

Iron Crag is separated from Caw Fell by an unnamed col at the watershed of Bleaberry Gill and Silvercove Beck. The Western slopes are separated by a much shallower col leading to Whoap. The gentler southern aspect, which is covered by rough grassland, covers a roughly triangular area, bordered on the South by Caw Fell and Bleaberry Gill, and on the West by Lank Rigg and Whoap. The Ennerdale Wall, running over the length of the ridge, marks a striking transition in vegetation, with the Northern slopes of Iron Cragg being mostly carpeted by heather.

Summit and view

The true summit, marked by a small cairn, is on the Northern aspect of the Ennerdale Wall.

Iron Crag is classed as a Fellranger, being described by Richards in the Wasdale volume of his book series.[2] It is among the 21 such summits (originally 18 before the extension of the Lake District) which are not included in Wainwright's list of 214.[3] Richards describes Iron Crag as "Great ridge between Crag Fell and Caw Fell, dividing the barren pasture of Kinniside Common from the rank heather of Ennerdale".[2]

Ascents

From the Fell Road at Kinniside, a track known as the Black Potts road leads Eastwards for around three miles, past Blakeley Raise, Grike and Crag Fell before ending at the lower slopes of Boat How. From here, the Ennerdale Wall can be followed to the summit area of Iron Crag.[4]

Crashed Aircraft

The remains of a Royal Canadian Air Force Sabre Mk6 (23380), which crashed on 26 June 1959, can be found close to the summit of Iron Crag [5][6]

  • Iron Crag from the Black Potts road
    Iron Crag from the Black Potts road
  • Iron Crag from the West
    Iron Crag from the West

References
  1. "Iron Crag [Ennerdale Fell]". www.hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  2. Richards, Mark (2019). Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale: The Scafells, Great Gable, Pillar. Cicerone Press Limited. ISBN 978-1-78362-786-8. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  3. "Fellranger additional fells". Cicerone. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. Alfred Wainwright: A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, Volume 7 The Western Fells: Westmorland Gazette (1966): ISBN 0-7112-2460-9
  5. Air Britain Historians ltd , accessed 2011-07-07
  6. Yorkshire Aircraft Archived 2011-10-08 at archive.today, accessed 2011-07-07
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