Routes up
Great Crag routes: 2 ways to the top
Stonethwaite via Dock TarnHiking · 2.7 km one way · 349 m ascent · ~1h 5m · from Stonethwaite, BorrowdaleModerate
Climb the stepped path through the woods to Dock Tarn, then go north over heather knolls to the top.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Stonethwaite via Dock Tarn route guideWatendlath via Dock TarnHiking · 3.1 km one way · 194 m ascent · ~0h 55m · from Watendlath (National Trust car park)Moderate
Follow the path south from Watendlath across the moor to Dock Tarn and then to the summit.
Near the start
From OpenStreetMap, within 2 km. Check opening times before you rely on them.
Full Watendlath via Dock Tarn route guide
Summit today
Is it safe to climb Great Crag today?
Loading the summit forecast…
Cloud inversion · 7 days
The chance of standing above a sea of cloud on Great Crag each morning this week, from overnight temperature, humidity and low cloud below the 449m summit.
Dark sky · 7 days
How dark the sky gets over Great Crag each night this week, from cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution.
Snow · 7 days
No snow is forecast at the summit in the next 7 days.
Sun today
Sunrise 07:06, sunset 16:45
9h 39m of daylight. Golden hour ends 07:59 and starts 15:52. From the summit you see the sun 07:02 to 16:49.
Nearby summits
Close to Great Crag
About Great Crag
Great Crag rises above Stonethwaite in Borrowdale, on the rough ground that stretches east towards Watendlath. Grange Fell lies 1.7 km to the north and Eagle Crag 2.6 km to the south, across the Stonethwaite valley. The fell is a jumble of rocky knolls, heather and small hollows.
The usual route climbs from Stonethwaite on a stepped path through the woods to Dock Tarn, then heads north to the summit. You can also come from Watendlath, crossing the moor south past the tarn. The summit is one knoll among many, so pick your line with care in mist.
Great Crag is a Wainwright and a Birkett. Dock Tarn, with its heather and water lilies, is a pleasant place to stop on the way up.
Great Crag is 449 m (1,473 ft) high with 34 m of prominence. It is in Lake District C&W, England. OS grid reference NY270146. It is the 54th highest of the 70 summits Peakify lists in Lake District C&W. The nearest summits are Grange Fell (1.7 km), Eagle Crag (2.6 km) and Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot (2.5 km).
What is the best way up Great Crag?
Climb from Stonethwaite on the stepped path to Dock Tarn, then head north over rough ground to the summit.
Can you walk Great Crag from Watendlath?
Yes. A path crosses the moor south from Watendlath to Dock Tarn and on to Great Crag.
Is Great Crag hard to find in mist?
Yes. The top is a cluster of similar rocky knolls in heather, so you need to navigate with care.
How high is Great Crag?
Great Crag is 449 metres high with 34 metres of prominence.
Where is Great Crag?
Great Crag is listed in Lake District C&W, England.
Are there routes for Great Crag?
Peakify lists 2 routes for Great Crag, including available distance, ascent, start point, and difficulty details. The easiest is Stonethwaite via Dock Tarn (2.7 km one way, Moderate).
Is it safe to climb Great Crag today?
Peakify rates each day on the summit Good, Marginal or Poor from the forecast summit wind, gusts, chance of rain and wind chill. Wind of 40 mph or gusts of 65 mph make it Poor; wind of 25 mph, gusts of 45 mph, a 60% chance of rain or a feels-like temperature of -8°C or below make it Marginal. Today's and tomorrow's ratings are at the top of this page. The rating covers the weather only: also check your route, daylight, kit and experience, and in winter whether you need an ice axe and crampons.
What weather information is shown for Great Crag?
The page includes cached mountain forecast context, snow outlook, dark-sky signals, cloud-inversion information, sunrise, sunset, and summit planning details where available.
Peakify is run by Sam Tyler, who has climbed Yr Wyddfa 22 times. The forecast refreshes every hour; how our forecast works.
