Caw Fell

Caw Fell is a fell in the English Lake District, standing between Haycock and the Lank Rigg group. It occupies a wide upland area with Ennerdale to the north and Blengdale to the south. The fell is distant from any point of access by Lakeland standards, but can be climbed from Blengdale or Bowness Knott car-parks. The Western Fells occupy a triangular sector of the Lake District, bordered by the River Cocker to the north east and Wasdale to the south east. At the central hub of the high country are Great Gable and its satellites, while two principal ridges fan out on either flank of Ennerdale. Caw Fell stands on the southern arm of the western fells, which form a great horseshoe around Ennerdale. The main watershed runs broadly westwards from Great Gable, dividing the headwaters of Ennerdale and Wasdale. The surrounding valleys gradually diverge until at Caw Fell they are six miles apart. The Bleng rises to the south of Caw Fell, while Worm Gill drains the western slopes. The fell is therefore the end of the westerly run of the ridge, and the watershed curves north around the head of Worm Gill. The unnamed col connecting Caw Fell to Haycock is flat topped and carries the Ennerdale Fence, a substantial dry stone wall. West of the summit a broad ridge descends steeply to Worm Gill, a craggy bowl scooped out on the northern side above Bleaberry Gill. Running due north between this corrie and Silver Cove is the ridge of Iron Crag, making the whole summit area resemble an inverted ‘T’ in plan. A narrow and steep-sided col at 1,575 feet provides Iron Crag with considerably more prominence than its parent. The rock face giving Iron Crag its name overlooks Silver Cove, but is not particularly prominent.