The rock face giving Iron Crag its name overlooks Silver Cove, but is not particularly prominent. From this top the ridge swings west again, the rough northern flanks running above the shore of Ennerdale Water. The main features here are Mart Knott, Stair Knott and Boat How. The ridge now meets the headwaters of the River Calder and divides to embrace the valley, Crag Fell to the north and Lank Rigg to the south. Caw Fell also has a lower level south west ridge, running down between the River Bleng and Worm Gill. This descends first to Stockdale Moor, a site littered with tumuli, hut circles, enclosures and other remnants of ancient habitation. Beyond are the low hills centred on Ponsonby Fell (1,033 ft), not included by Alfred Wainwright in his influential Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, but covered by other guidebooks. Geology The north eastern flanks are overlain by drift deposits with the plagioclase-phyric andesite lavas of the Birker Fell Formation beneath. The rest of the fell exhibits rock of the Ennerdale Intrusion, granophyric granite. Iron Crag Mine operated below the crag of that name from around 1864 to 1896. 500 tons of haematite ore was raised in 1881, but the mine never proved a commercial success. Other smaller operations ran briefly in Silver Cove and Deep Gill. Summit The top stands to the north of the wall, marked by a cairn. Caw Fell is remote from higher fells and gives an all round panorama of the Western Fells and the Scafells. It is necessary to cross the wall to take in the full view. Ascents The south west ridge over Stockdale Moor can be followed from the car park at Bleng Bridge, this being over five miles each way. From Bowness Knott in Ennerdale, Caw Fell can be reached in a similar distance via the Tongue End spur. Indirect ascents can be made via Grike and Crag Fell from the Kinniside Stone Circle. Gallery References Fells of the Lake District Nuttalls Borough of Copeland