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

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.

​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

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