UKC

Climbs 23
Rocktype Rhyolite
Altitude 800m a.s.l
Faces N

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Sunset from Helvellyn © Paul Evans

Crag features

A Large broken crag with mainly easy routes but potential for short technical pitches. Comes into winter condition quickly and is popular.

Approach notes

Environmentally sensitive flora. About 60mins walk from the Swirls car park. Easy access from the top of the Crag to the routes on the Red Tarn Face of Helvellyn via Swirral Edge.

No Access Issues

The vegetation of the crag is ecologically important, please only climb here  when the crag is well frozen. Real-time data showing the temperature at the crag can be found at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/lake-district-winter-conditions?_ga=2.68476439.72354218.1575980101-195473064.1575386024

LOST!! Hi all, on Saturday 15th FEBRUARY I lost 4 small wild country hexes all on a silver snapgate. If found please call or message me on 07595843705 or email me on jamesgibsoncumbria@hotmail.com thanks.
JamesGibson - 17/Feb/14
I've updated the crag to be consistent with the latest winter guide (I hope!) I still have my doubts about whether the diagram in the latest guide is right.
Will Smith - 14/Jan/14
Would concur with the poor route diagram. Central Gully is shown in the wrong place!
Ghastly Rubberfeet - 01/Mar/10
A note needs to be made to avoid confusion on this route. This winter line, as described and as shown in the topo of the 2006 Cicerone Winter guide, does follow the line of a Summer Scramble called 'Brown Cove Crags Central Buttress' as described by R.B Evans in his 'Scrambles in the Lake District' - (Cicerone 1985). It does this almost perfectly and to the letter. It does not, however, in any way follow the summer scramble of 'Stepped Ridge' which is also described by Evans in 'More Scrambles in the Lake District' (Cicerone 1990). This line is found on the Right Buttress not the central one. Confusion, I think, has arisen because both summer scrambles involve a through route, however, the Riley's Window move of Central Buttress is certainly distinctive enough and definitely the one followed by the winter line. Confusion has also arisen, in my view, over the topo for the crag in the new FRCC Winter Guide being wrong, in marking left branch and central gully in the same place, this differs from Birkett’s guide.
jimorothy - 16/Feb/10
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Climbs at this crag

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