Carrock Fell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carrock Fell |
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|---|---|
Carrock Fell seen from the Caldew valley
near the site of the Carrock mine |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 661 m (2,169 ft) |
| Prominence | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Parent peak | Knott |
| Listing | Hewitt, Nuttall, Wainwright |
| Geography | |
 Carrock Fell
Location in Lake District
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| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Parent range | Lake District, Northern Fells |
| OS grid | NY341336 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 90 OS Explorer 5 |
Carrock Fell is a mountain, also called a fell, in the English Lake District. It is located in the northern part of this beautiful national park. You can find it about 8 miles (13 kilometres) north-east of Keswick.
The name "Carrock Fell" means "Rock Fell." It comes from old words: carrec from Cumbric (meaning "rock") and fjall from Old Norse (meaning "fell" or "mountain").
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How Tall is Carrock Fell?
Carrock Fell is about 661 meters (2,168 feet) high. For many years, maps showed it as 663 meters tall. However, new surveys by the Ordnance Survey now show it as slightly shorter. Some older guidebooks might still show the original height.
What Makes Carrock Fell Special?
A famous writer, Alfred Wainwright, loved Carrock Fell. He thought it was one of the most exciting mountains in the northern Lake District. It's special because of its unique rocks, old mines, and interesting history.
Unlike many nearby mountains, Carrock Fell is very rocky. Most other fells in the area are smooth and covered in grass. The River Caldew flows along the south and east sides of the fell. All the water from Carrock Fell eventually drains into this river. The river then flows to the Solway Firth.
Carrock Fell's Unique Rocks and Mines
Carrock Fell has a very special type of rock called Gabbro. This rock is usually found in places like the Black Cuillin on the Isle of Skye. Gabbro is a strong, "clean" rock that is great for rock climbing.
In fact, Carrock Fell offers the best rock climbing in the northern fells. Most other mountains there are made of crumbly Skiddaw Slate, which isn't good for climbing.
The mountain is also rich in valuable minerals. People have mined here for hundreds of years. They found tungsten, lead, arsenic, and iron. The most famous mine was the Carrock Mine. It was the only place in Britain, outside of Devon and Cornwall, where tungsten was found.
The main entrance to the mine was at 340 meters high. The mine opened in 1854. It was mostly used when tungsten was in high demand, like during wartime. For example, it was very busy during both World Wars and the Korean War. The mine closed in 1981. A few years later, the site was cleaned up and returned to its natural look.
A Mountain Full of History
Carrock Fell is home to an Iron Age hill fort right on its top. You can still see the foundations of the old walls today. This fort was oval-shaped. Historians believe the Celts built it. It was likely destroyed by the Romans when they conquered northern England.
Carrock Fell also has a fun story involving famous writers. In 1857, well-known British novelists Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins climbed it. They were on a tour of northern Cumberland. Dickens had heard about the fell and wanted to climb it.
During their climb, Collins sprained his ankle. Dickens had to help him get back down the mountain. Later, Collins and Dickens wrote a funny story based on their adventure. It was called The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices.
How to Climb Carrock Fell
Even with all its history and geology, Carrock Fell is mostly a place for fell walking. Most people start their climb from the paved road that leads to the old Carrock Mine site. You can park your car at NY328326. From there, you can climb the steep south-west slopes.
Another way to climb Carrock Fell is from the road between Mungrisedale and Hesket Newmarket. This route goes through the rocky eastern slopes, which are known as "Apronful of Stones."
The Summit View
From the top of Carrock Fell, you get a great view to the east. You can see the Pennines mountains across the Eden valley.
Carrock Fell has two smaller peaks nearby. These are Round Knott (603 meters) and Milton Hill (607 meters). They are to the west of the main summit. They are part of the ridge that connects to the nearby mountain of High Pike.
Computer-generated summit panorama
