Walk 67r - Walla Crag/Bleaberry Fell

Walk 67r - Walla Crag & Bleaberry Fell - 19th March 2025
Wainwright's Walking Guide to the Lake District Fells - Book 3 The Central Fells
Walla Crag 1243 ft (revisit) Bleaberry Fell 1936 ft (revisit)	Distance	5.3 miles
	Time	4 hrs
	Lowest Point	695 ft
	Highest Point	1936 ft
	Total Ascent	1430 ft
Walk Rating - moderate (easy for Walla Crag only)

Mini Route Map
(larger map at the bottom)

Go to walk start

///stag.vocals.scout


	11.23 The most useful parking is a short way along the road to Rakefoot, but only has space for about 5 cars. There are a couple of more sketchy spots further up the road but turning is difficult.


	11.29 After passing the Heights Hotel, Castlerigg Hall, Castlerigg Farm etc ignore another path dropping away to the right. After a few minutes you will come to this signed junction.


	11.32 Then a few minutes further cross the footbridge and keep to the right hand path. (photo looking back)


	11.37 The view behind soon opens up.


	11.41 Blencathra on the far side of the valley.


	11.48 The trees ahead are the Walla Crag Area. There are two breaks in the wall to get into the area - the closest is just visible in the picture below the single tree, but the further stile gives easier access to the summit even though that involves walking past it slightly.


	11.57 From a grassy area just north of the summit, accessed through the first gate.



	12.14 Panorama 1049 Walla Crag summit (Wainwright #154 1243ft revisit). Note: This is the end of the easy walk. To complete it reverse your steps back to the parking. Total distance will be 2.3 miles, total ascent 570 ft, total time 1 hour. Continuing to Bleaberry Fell is still fairly straightforward though. The path is good all the way and most of the route is clearly visible from Walla Crag in good weather. The last push to the summit is steep for a few minutes. After the summit I would recommend returning the way you have come. This would give a total distance of 5.2 miles and ascent of 1553 ft to do it all. In todays walk I experimented returning from Bleaberry Fell summit by a different route which had very little in the way of path, a steep drop off the summit and was wet in places, involving several minutes of bog hopping.

12.14 Panorama 1049 Walla Crag summit (Wainwright #154 1243ft revisit).

Note: This is the end of the easy walk. To complete it reverse your steps back to the parking. Total distance will be 2.3 miles, total ascent 570 ft, total time 1 hour.

Continuing to Bleaberry Fell is still fairly straightforward though. The path is good all the way and most of the route is clearly visible from Walla Crag in good weather. The last push to the summit is steep for a few minutes. After the summit I would recommend returning the way you have come. This would give a total distance of 5.2 miles and ascent of 1553 ft to do it all.

In todays walk I experimented returning from Bleaberry Fell summit by a different route which had very little in the way of path, a steep drop off the summit and was wet in places, involving several minutes of bog hopping.


	12.21 Leaving Walla Crag with Bleaberry Fell in the distance.	Path to Bleaberry Fell summit.


	12.55 Looking back - Walla Crag on the right.



	13.01 Panorama 1050 Ascending Bleaberry Fell.



	13.29 Panorama 1051 Bleaberry Fell summit (Wainwright #155 1936ft) revisit. (I had been here at least 10 mins before taking the photos.)


	14.01 Dropping off the summit, keep to the left of this fence and I needed to hold on to it in places where the ground got steep.


	14.09 Looking back at Bleaberry Fell.


	14.14 Panorama 1052 Approaching the wall between Bleaberry Fell and Dodd Crag. I could see no way over this so walked left and eventually found a broken down part well below the main summit.



	14.35 Panorama 1053 Having got through the wall this is from the flat area of grass below Dodd Crag.


	14.50 Looking back at Dodd Crag and there is the proper way through the wall. Next time !


	14.56 Plane passing in front of Skiddaw.


	15.06 The ground here was wet and there was some bog hopping for a while.


	15.11 Typhoons passing low over Walla Crag.


	15.18 Nearing Castlerigg and I can spot what looks like a path on the far side of the valley that goes up Pike - one for next time. A big bonus of this walk is the teashop at Castlerigg Hall before you even get back to the car !

15.18 Nearing Castlerigg and I can spot what looks like a path on the far side of the valley that goes up Pike - one for next time.

A big bonus of this walk is the teashop at Castlerigg Hall before you even get back to the car !