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Grey Crag, Harrop Pike, and Tarn Crag above Longsleddale

A few miles from Kendal heading north a minor road leaves the A6 signposted "Longsleddale 4½miles". At first the road, like the valley, is relatively wide. On the lush valley floor occasional farms dot the landscape, cattle and sheep graze the fields. The fells close in and the road narrows. The last bit is very narrow with few passing places and high hedges. Parking near the bridge at Sadgill at the end of the tarmac road you get out and look, on all sides you see inspiring crags and fells. It's time for a walk.

To the north east of Sadgill and some 400m (440 yards) higher lie the summits of Grey Crag, Harrop Pike and Tarn Crag on the Sleddale Fell massif. Looking at the contours on the OS 25K map it looks like it is either going to be rocky or boggy. The lower slopes, at least on the Longsleddale side, are indeed craggy and steep. Despite that the field just above the road is home to cows and their young calves. Above their field is lush waist high summer bracken and a line of crags. Higher still, you reach open peaty moorland. The three summit tops are dry oases linked by fences. Grey Crag and Tarn Crag are linked by a fence and path across Greycrag Tarn. This sounds somewhat optimistic but we found the crossing dry and without problem, obviously in very wet weather the tarn may make an appearance!

On the east side of Great How, and near the summit of Tarn Crag, are tall survey columns associated with the building in 1930s of the Haweswater Reservoir and aqueduct by the Manchester Corporation.

Informal parking is on the east side of the bridge at Sadgill, with enough space for around half-a-dozen cars spread along the end of the rough Gatescarth Pass track.