Always take a map and compass with you. ©Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 051/190 km 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 15600
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Start/Finish
Roadside at Hause
Foot, Crookdale
GR: NY551054
Take bridleway over Crookdale
Bridge and go diagonally R to
gateway. R to second gateway
then L.(^2)
At third gateway go L, follow
quad tracks along wall then
fence over Whatshaw Common.
Through gate follow fence R over
Little and Great Yarlside to
Harrop Pike.
Crookdale Horseshoe
Lake District ENGLAND
15km/9.3 miles/4-5 hours
Ascent 565m/1854ft^5
SHAP FELLS aren’t popular,
having a reputation for
being featureless and boggy.
Boggy they can be, although
I walked this route at the end
of a wet and stormy March,
on the Monday following
a Friday of torrential rain,
and with a drying breeze
blowing it wasn’t all that wet.
There’s usually a quad bike
track circumventing the
worst bits. As for features,
I saw miles of empty country
in alternate shadow and sun,
a glittering stream far below,
a dozen red deer, snipe,
lapwing, a lizard – and
any number of never-
ending views. There are
also eight summits.
It’s not often I have a bone
to pick with Wainwright, but
he’s guilty of short-selling
the Crookdale Horseshoe.
(^3)
Cross fence, continue SW to
fence corner. Path S to cairn
on Grey Crag.
(^4)
E to fence; go R, follow to
rise just before gate and
corner. Follow faint track L over
Lord’s Seat to Robin Hood summit.
(^5)
Track drops L to gate in wall.
Through gate SE to next gate
then ridge to High House Bank.
(^6)
From summit go NE to wall:
follow N then E to Crookdale
Bridge.
Gradient profile Metres above sea level
James Deboo
expands his
horizons
The Great Outdoors July 2019 93