Steeple, Scoat Fell, Haycock & Caw Fell - Tuesday 17 February 2026
Route
Bowness Knott - Char Dub - River Liza - Woundell Beck - Ling Mell Plantation - Lingmell - Low Beck - Long Crag - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Little Gowder Crag - Caw Fell - Silvercove Beck - Woundell Beck - River Liza - Char Dub - Bowness Knott
Parking
Forestry England Car Park at Bowness Knott (Charge). The Grid Reference is NY 1094 1541 and the nearest postcode is CA23 3AU.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and forest tracks throughout. The ground was bone hard and coupled with snow on the summit ridges resulted in microspikes being deployed.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes however it was extremely cold. Snow on the ground as we reached Steeple and this remained until we departed from Caw Fell.
Time Taken
7hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
3215ft (980m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
Bowness Knott - Char Dub - River Liza - Woundell Beck - Ling Mell Plantation - Lingmell - Low Beck - Long Crag - Steeple - Scoat Fell - Haycock - Little Gowder Crag - Caw Fell - Silvercove Beck - Woundell Beck - River Liza - Char Dub - Bowness Knott
Parking
Forestry England Car Park at Bowness Knott (Charge). The Grid Reference is NY 1094 1541 and the nearest postcode is CA23 3AU.
Mileage
11.2 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths and forest tracks throughout. The ground was bone hard and coupled with snow on the summit ridges resulted in microspikes being deployed.
Weather
Sunny with light breezes however it was extremely cold. Snow on the ground as we reached Steeple and this remained until we departed from Caw Fell.
Time Taken
7hrs 20mins
Total Ascent
3215ft (980m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with members of Lakeland Meet Ups
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
The Forestry England Car Park at Bowness Knott. At weekends this area fills up pretty quickly therefore you are advised to get here early - during the week it is normally quite easy to obtain a space.
Looking across Ennerdale Water to Revelin Crag on Crag Fell with Anglers Crag over to the right
Crossing the Irish Bridge over the River Liza
The River Liza from the Irish Bridge
The route crosses Woundell Beck via a footbridge known locally as Galloway Bridge or Moo Moo Bridge
At Grid Reference NY 13398 13801 a waymark points the way south into Ling Mell Plantation. In days gone by this path was easily missed however the brand spanking new sign should make sure this does not happen - providing you are looking up that is!
Bowness Knott, Herdus & Great Borne from the climb through Ling Mell Plantation
Iron Crag
Eventually the route leaves the steep climb out of Ling Mell Plantation to emerge on to level going and open fell side. In the distance are White Pike on Pillar & Wind Gap with Steeple just poking out centre right.
Red Pike across Ennerdale
The group pausing for breath before we start the steep ascent to Steeple via Long Crag
The panorama down Ennerdale from the base of Long Crag
Herdus, Great Borne, Starling Dodd, Little Dodd, Red Pike, High Stile & High Crag from the base of Long Crag
And so it begins, the steep ascent of Long Crag - however the views on the way up are exceptional
Heading up Long Crag - there are many false summits on the way up
Looking across Windgap Cove to Pillar, Wind Gap & Black Crag
Approaching the upper reaches of Long Crag
Pillar, Wind Gap & Black Crag across Windgap Cove with Mirk Cove to the right
Looking down Long Crag - the pic does not show just how steep this is
Steeple's summit now in sight as we reach the top of Long Crag
From the upper section of Long Crag it is a short climb to gain Steeple's summit
Looking across Mirkiln Cove to Haskett Buttress, Haycock, Little Gowder Crag & Caw Fell
Pillar from the approach to Steeple's summit
The group on the final climb to gain Steeple's summit
Looking down our route of ascent from Steeple's summit - from here the terrain looks worse than it actually is
The group on the summit of Steeple
Pillar & Black Crag across Mirk Cove from Steeple's summit - Great Gable is over to the distant right
From Steeple we would now be heading over to Scoat Fell, the summit of which is over to the left and reached via a narrow path
Much is made of the access to & from Steeple - it is a perfectly safe transit provided you simply take your time
Looking back to Steeple as we start the transit over to Scoat Fell
Steeple from the start of the short climb to Scoat Fell
Steeple across Mirk Cove - a walker can be seen on the path we have just come over on
The glorious panorama from Scoat Fell - Steeple to the left & Pillar right
Looking to the Scafell Range from Scoat Fell
A distant Black Combe with Middle Fell in the foreground & Seatallan over to the right
The cairn on the wall which runs across Scoat Fell - the summit lies on the other side of the cairn
From Scoat Fell we headed into a col to then begin the short, steep climb to Haycock
A cairn in the col marks a junction of paths - left will take you to Wasdale Head via Netherbeck, whilst heading to the right leads to Ennerdale via Tewit How
The Scafells in the distance from the ascent of Haycock
Looking back to Scoat Fell from the ascent of Haycock
The group on the summit of Haycock
From Haycock we headed over to Caw Fell via Little Gowder Crag. The path keeps to the left of Little Gowder however a simple, short detour over rocks enables the summit to be reached.
Aye aye, what's all this then?? We had a chat with a bloke who was working here and he informed us this was a temporary structure being used to support the building of a new fence.
Looking back to Little Gowder Crag & Haycock as we approach the summit of Caw Fell
The highest point on Caw Fell - the cairn lies a few metres to the west
The group on the summit of Caw Fell
From Caw Fell we joined the path which heads back to Ennerdale between Silvercove Beck & Deep Gill
Approaching Ennerdale & the Ling Mell Plantations
The group decide to break into The Conga as we cross the footbridge over Woundell Beck
After crossing the Irish Bridge for the second time today we headed along the forest track back to Bowness Knott
As is customary we held a post walk debrief - this time in The Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale Bridge