Hiking from Grange to Castle Crag via Hause Gate, Bull Crag, High Spy, and Rigghead Quarries.
On the 6th of August 2024, I set out from Grange in Borrowdale on a hike that would take me through some of the most stunning scenery in the Lake District. From Manesty, I followed the trail to Hause Gate, climbed up to Bull Crag, and then made my way to the summit of High Spy. From there I descended to explore the old workings at Rigghead Quarries, before finally climbing Castle Crag, one of the smallest of the Wainwright fells but packed with history. To cap off the day, I flew my drone to capture footage of Castle Crag from above, a unique way to see the landscape.
The climb to Hause Gate.
I began the day by parking near Grange on the River Derwent and headed towards Manesty and then up to Hause Gate. The climb here was steady but not overly challenging. As I reached Hause Gate, the views over Derwent Water, shimmering in the morning light were amazing.
Traversing Bull Crag and Reaching High Spy.
From Hause Gate, the path steepened as I headed up to Bull Crag, a rugged and somewhat imposing landmark. The ground here became rockier and Bull Crag's dark, jagged rocks starkly contrasted with the green valleys below. Beyond it, was High Spy at 2,143 feet (653 metres). Wainwright described High Spy as "a broad-topped fell" with steep, dramatic flanks falling away to the valleys on either side. The climb to the summit was fun and rewarding. Standing at the top, the views were amazing with Borrowdale below and the distant peaks of the Skiddaw in the distance.
Exploring Rigghead Quarries.
The descent from High Spy took me down towards Rigghead Quarries. Once a hub of slate mining, the quarries are now no longer in use, but you still have piles of slate and old tunnels to explore. Walking around the quarries, I couldn’t help but imagine how tough it must have been to work in those conditions. Wainwright often noted the rugged appeal of these industrial scars on the landscape, and I could see why.
Final Destination: Castle Crag
After exploring the quarries, I continued down towards Castle Crag. Standing at just 951 feet (290 metres), it may be one of the smallest fells in Wainwright’s guides, but it has a character all its own. Wainwright wrote that Castle Crag "makes up for its lack of height with its grand form and superb position". The climb up to the top was steep in places, with loose slate making the climb tricky at times. But once I reached the top, the views were more than worth the effort. To the north, I could see Derwent Water, with the fells of Skiddaw and Blencathra in the distance. Looking south, the dramatic ridges of the Borrowdale fells filled the skyline. There’s a war memorial at the summit, a tribute to the men of Borrowdale who lost their lives in WW1.
Capturing the Moment with My DJI Mini 3 Pro Drone.
From the top of Castle Crag, I flew my drone and got some amazing aerial views that I could never experience from the ground. The aerial footage showed Castle Crag standing proud in the valley, with the River Derwent below heading towards Derwentwater. The crag’s rocky outcrops looked even more dramatic from an aerial view. It was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic day of hiking in the lakes.