Wandope, Crag Hill, Sail & Ard Crags - Wednesday 19 November 2025
Route
Rigg Beck Quarry - Rigg Beck - Wandope - Thirdgill Head Man - Wandope Moss - Crag Hill - Eel Crag - Crag Hill - The Scar - Sail - Ard Crags - Aikin Knott - Rigg Beck - Rigg Beck Quarry
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
8.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. The section from Addacomb Beck to the summit of Wandope is extremely steep. Whilst there was snow on the ground this had not yet compacted therefore we did not need micro spikes however we had them with us just in case.
Weather
Glorious sunshine yet bitterly cold with intermittent strong breezes
Time Taken
7hrs 30 mins
Total Ascent
3556ft (1084m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Sara Boyle & Floki
Rigg Beck Quarry - Rigg Beck - Wandope - Thirdgill Head Man - Wandope Moss - Crag Hill - Eel Crag - Crag Hill - The Scar - Sail - Ard Crags - Aikin Knott - Rigg Beck - Rigg Beck Quarry
Parking
Parking area on a sharp bend in the road approximately 1/4 a mile north east of the farm at Birkrigg (free) - Grid Reference NY 2297 2017. Nearest postcode is CA12 5TS. There is enough room for about 9 sensibly parked cars.
Mileage
8.6 miles
Terrain
Good mountain paths. The section from Addacomb Beck to the summit of Wandope is extremely steep. Whilst there was snow on the ground this had not yet compacted therefore we did not need micro spikes however we had them with us just in case.
Weather
Glorious sunshine yet bitterly cold with intermittent strong breezes
Time Taken
7hrs 30 mins
Total Ascent
3556ft (1084m)
Wainwrights
4
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Walkers
Dave with Nicky Oliver, Sara Boyle & Floki
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 parking area at Rigg Beck Quarry
Leaving the parking area, an ankle length way mark points the way in the direction of Buttermere hand railing Rigg Beck
Almost immediately the views open out - Rigg Beck is below to the left with Aikin Knott & Ard Crags taking centre stage. The path seen to the centre left below Aikin Knott would be our return route.
Looking back along Rigg Beck as the path starts to climb gently
The path continues to rise gently as we handrail Rigg Beck with Rigg Screes on Ard Cags to the left
Looking up to the col between Ard Crags & Sail as we continue to climb
Reaching the col the vista opens out down to Buttermere with High Stile, Red Pike & Starling Dodd now in view
Heading to the crossing point over Addacomb Beck. Ahead can be seen our path of ascent heading up towards the lower slopes of Wandope’s summit with Addacomb Hole over to the centre right.
Looking back to the crossing point over Addacomb Beck as we start the lung busting ascent to Wandope
Addacomb Hole
Looking over Rigg Beck to Knott Rigg, Robinson & Hindscarth
Ard Crags & Knott Rigg as we continue the ascent. The path up was intermittent on occasion because of the snow, therefore we just took our time and stopped often in order to look back at views like this.
Newlands Hause & High Snockrigg with the High Stile Ridge beyond
The steepness of the ascent is relentless and in my opinion is second only to that of climbing Kirk Fell via Highnose Head
Knott Rigg from the ascent of Wandope
Scar Crag on Crag Hill across Addacomb Hole
Wandope's summit now in sight as we look across Addacomb Hole to Crag Hill
Addacomb Hole
The feature is a hanging valley and looks like a giant spoon has scooped out the ground between the crags of Wandope & Crag Hill
The feature is a hanging valley and looks like a giant spoon has scooped out the ground between the crags of Wandope & Crag Hill
A final look down at our route of ascent as we near the summit of Wandope
Knott Rigg from near the summit of Wandope
Ard Crags from Wandope with layers & layers of the Eastern fells beyond
The final approach to Wandope's summit
Crag Hill & Sail from Wandope
Sara, Nicky & Floki on the summit of Wandope - what a beautiful day this was
A summit selfie with Sara, Nicky & a camera shy Floki
From Wandope we headed over to Thirdgill Head Man with Grasmoor centre
Whiteless Pike from Thirdgill Head Man - the transit from here to the summit via Whiteless Edge is a superb walk
Rannerdale Knotts to the left with Mellbreak looming large over Crummock Water - the small fell in the centre of shot is Lad Hows
Grasmoor from the summit of Thirdgill Head Man
From Thirdgill Head Man we headed to the col between Grasmoor & Crag Hill via Wandope Moss. On another day with more light we would have climbed Grasmoor however we were off to Crag Hill next which is out of shot to the right.
Wandope from the start of the ascent to Crag Hill
Looking back to the col with Grasmoor beyond as we start the short, steep ascent to Crag Hill
The short but steep climb to Crag Hill - the depth of snow made this ascent tougher than it normally is
A panorama over to Wandope & Grasmoor from the ascent of Crag Hill
The conditions today were just perfect as we look south
Prior to reaching Crag Hill we veered off to the north to visit Eel Crag. As can be seen, the approach gives fantastic views down into Coledale, Grisedale Pike & Skiddaw.
Coledale from the transit to Eel Crag with Skiddaw & Blencathra distant
The final approach to the summit of Eel Crag with Whiteside over to the left and Hopegill Head centre right
Whiteside with Gasgale Gill below
Another fantastic view down Coledale
The view from the summit of Eel Crag (Click Play to view)
The summit of Eel Crag looking to Crag Hill
From Eel Crag we headed to Crag Hill's summit plateau & Trig Point - the actual summit is 40 yards to the south
The Trig Point near the summit of Crag Hill looking to Skiddaw & Blencathra
Leaving Crag Hill we were now off to Sail which is climbed by crossing The Scar which is to the left
Knott Rigg & Robinson from the top of The Scar
Heading down The Scar to Sail with Scar Crags & Causey Pike beyond
Sail from the bottom of The Scar
Looking back to Crag Hill from The Scar
High Stile, Red Pike & our route up Wandope from The Scar
Wandope & Crag Hill from the summit of Sail
The summit of Sail
From Sail we dropped down the zig zag path to the Sail Pass
The top of the Sail Pass below us with Scar Crags ahead - we would now turn right to drop down to our outward route below Ard Crags
Heading down to our outward route which comes in from the left below Ard Crags which is directly ahead. Ordinarily I would have taken the direct route up to the summit however due to the snow on the ground we made a gradual ascent from left to right.
Crag Hill, Sail and the top of the Sail Pass from the ascent of Ard Crags
The summit of Ard Crags looking along the ridge to Knott Rigg
Wandope & Addacomb Hole from Ard Crags
The summit of Ard Crags looking to Wandope, Crag Hill & Sail
Robinson & Dale Head from Ard Crags
Causey Pike from Aikin Knott
The descent back to the start from Aikin Knott - what an absolutely fantastic day on the fells this was