Allen Crags facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allen Crags |
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Allen Crags from Stockley bridge near Seathwaite.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 785 m (2,575 ft) |
| Prominence | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Parent peak | Scafell Pike |
| Listing | Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Allen Crags
Location in Lake District
Allen Crags
Location in Allerdale
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District Southern Fells |
| OS grid | NY236085 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 90, 89 OS Explorer 4, 6 |
Allen Crags is a mountain, also called a fell, located in the beautiful Lake District in England. It's part of a group of very popular mountains, often seen as part of the Scafell family of fells. Many hikers walk along its ridge, but it's not often the only mountain they plan to climb that day.
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How Allen Crags Got Its Name
The name 'Allen' comes from an old personal name, 'Alein' or 'Aleyn'. This name became popular after the Norman conquest of England (when people from France came to rule England). It's thought that the fell was named after a French conqueror, but we don't know who exactly.
Where is Allen Crags?
Allen Crags sits at the southern end of a long ridge, about 6 kilometers (almost 4 miles) long. This ridge starts in Stonethwaite in Borrowdale and ends at an important mountain pass called Esk Hause.
The mountain has steep, rocky sides on its eastern part, which drop down to the Langstrath valley. On its western side, the slopes are less steep and have grey, flat rocks that lead down to Grains Gill.
To the north, Allen Crags is connected to another fell called Glaramara by a fun, wavy ridge about 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) long. This path goes over three smaller tops before reaching the main summit. To the south, the mountain drops about 80 meters (260 feet) to connect with Esk Hause. From Esk Hause, you can easily reach nearby fells like Esk Pike and Great End. With a bit more effort, you can even get to Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain!
What is Allen Crags Made Of?
The rocks at the top of Allen Crags are made of special types of clay and silt that were formed from volcanic ash. There's also a narrow band of different volcanic rock, called andesite, running across the highest point. Most of the ridge is made of a type of volcanic rock called dacite.
How Can You Climb Allen Crags?
Many people reach Allen Crags by walking along its northern ridge from Glaramara. This is the most popular way to get there.
You can also climb directly from Borrowdale. To do this, you would follow the Grains Gill path from Seathwaite up to Esk Hause. From Esk Hause, it's an easy climb up the southern side of the fell.
Another popular way to experience Allen Crags is as part of a longer, circular walk. This can be a 15-kilometer (about 9 miles) loop starting from Seathwaite. This longer hike would also include Seathwaite Fell and Glaramara along with Allen Crags.
What's at the Top?
At the very top of Allen Crags, you'll find three piles of stones, called cairns. The middle one, built on rocks, is the highest point.
The best part of the view from the summit is a fantastic look at Great Gable, another famous mountain. The view to the south is a bit blocked by taller fells, but the view from west to east in the northern direction is truly amazing!
