Wainwright Routes - Tarn Crag Route One

Tarn Crag - Route One

Start - Grasmere NY 337 073

Distance - 3.2 miles

Ascent - 1,720 feet

Time - 2 hours : 05 minutes

Tarn Crag from the unenclosed road in Easedale

The road ends at a farm lane where a footpath sign indicates a right turn to Far Easedale and Helm Crag

A short cobbled lane leads via a gate to another signpost - right for Helm Crag and straight on for Far Easedale

Looking across to Sour Milk Gill and the path leading to Easedale Tarn from the bridleway to Far Easedale

The bridleway reaches the narrow lower reaches of Far Easedale running close by Far Easedale Gill

The footbridge at Stythwaite Steps. The main path continues on heading for Stonethwaite in Borrowdale via Greenup Edge, a left branch turns off towards Easedale Tarn and the east ridge of Tarn Crag

The east ridge of Tarn Crag from the same point. The path turns up to run beside the wall and joins the ridge on the left skyline

Following the wall to the base of the east ridge, the path is well used as an alternative route to the one usually taken from Grasmere to Easedale Tarn

AW made a note and sketch of these two " interesting boulders " in his diagram of this ascent, they can be seen on the left just as the wall makes a sharp turn. The larger rock has a luxuriant growth of heather on its top while the smaller has a tree growing in a large fissure. The walking pole has been extended to a height of three feet to give an impression of their size.
Tarn Crag - page 6

The path levels out as it begins to cross a shallow comb. Easedale Tarn lies beyond the moraines at its head. The climb towards the east ridge of Tarn Crag begins at this point

The east ridge from the start of the ascent path

Part of Easedale Tarn comes into view on the start of the climb to the east ridge

The path is somewhat indistinct in its lower reaches but soon improves as it gains the spine of the ridge

Looking down the lower part of the ridge. The shattered rocks on the lower left form the rock tor that AW noted on his diagram and the "interesting boulders" can be seen beside the wall below it

Blea Rigg above Easedale Tarn from the climb along Greathead Crag

Higher up the tops of the Langdale Pikes come into view above the Blea Rigg ridge

From Greathead Crag the ridge falls to a wide col where another path joins it from Easedale Tarn. The large crag on the left is very prominent when seen from the tarn and gives the fell its name, the actual summit is on its right

Looking back along the ridge from the top of Greathead Crag

The summit is approached by an open grass gully that leads to a col

Harrison Stickle seen on the steep climb up the gully

Looking back from the top of the gully to the Eastern Fells on the skyline

And from the same position across the summit crag to Helvellyn

Looking down the ridge from the top of the col

On the top of the prominent crag to the left of the col is a fine cairn which marks a viewpoint for Easedale Tarn. The tarn cannot be seen from the actual summit, so it is well worth making the short diversion to the cairn

Easedale Tarn from the viewpoint cairn

The Langdale Pikes and Codale Tarn from the viewpoint

The summit of Tarn Crag. The tiny cairn is even smaller than the one AW drew and it has been moved to the left of its original position
Tarn Crag - page 7