Styhead to Allen Crags (1:25 000 map NY20)

Abstract

The view from Green Gable shown on figure 22 illustrates well the gently dipping formations of the Seathwaite Fells Tuffs and Lincomb Tarns Ignimbrite, well exposed around Styhead, Sprinkling Tarn and Allen Crags. The distance from Styhead to Allen Crags is 2 kilometres and the vertical height 340 metres. This is a popular walking area, with the principal footpath running from Styhead via Sprinkling Tarn, Angle Tarn and Rossett Ghyll into Langdale. The region was geologically described by Oliver (1961) who introduced all the rock names used here. Near Styhead Tarn the highest members of the Airy’s Bridge Formation are acid lavas (dacites) and ignimbrites (figures 37 and 38). The Seathwaite Fells Tuffs rest on these rocks with a sharp junction which can be followed around Scafell and Bowfell and into Langdale where it traverses the higher parts of the Langdale Pikes (Moseley, 1983a, page 80).