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Castle Crag, Haweswater, to High Street.

By Hugh Stewart October 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

The picturesque southern end of Haweswater is usually busy, with walkers and mountain bikers heading for the two passes to the south, and for High street via Nan Bield pass, or its eastern ridge: Riggindale and Rough Crags. Going via Castle Crag and Low Raise guarantees isolation, unless your timing coincides with the Coast to Coasters along the waterside path. The human desertion of the broad ridge upto the Raises is well known by the local red deer population, which abound here, but we sat and watched them scatter when a bit off their territory on the Kidsty Pike ridge to the south, as walkers headed up there. This walk is the reverse of the northern part of Bill Birkett’s Mardale Skyline walk in his book of the Lakeland Fells.

Go round the head of the “Lake”,  over The Rigg and cross Riggindale and Randale Becks. The path ascends to underneath the Crag, but unless you fancy the steep scree and then grass to the evident southern col, you must descend beyond the crag and either traverse left round its base if the bracken is not out, or descend further and make your way through bracken to the small plantation. Walking up through this is easier than outside it, and at the top an old zig-zag path can be found, leading to the “castle”, which does show excellent views along the “Lake”.

Doing the round this way allows you to negotiate the crags which now abound on the ridge upto Lady’s Seat, then a moorland path leads along the northern edge of the broad ridge to Low Raise. The crowds now start to appear as the path leads on to High Raise, Rampsgill Head and High Street. Hopefully the grand views down Riggindale will open up for you, although shifting mist does make them more interesting.

From High Street look for a small path leading south-east across the moor to a much bigger one, leading over Mardale Ill Bell to Nan Bield Pass, and dramatically down past Small Water back to the car park. The usually busy shelter at Nan Bield was empty, a poor shelter against the cold north wind today. We noted the planting of trees near the outflow of Small Water does not seem to be a success, unfortunately. 8.5 miles with 2856ft ascent.

Castle Crag from the south.
North from Castle Crag along Haweswater.
On the zig-zag path above the plantation.
The head of Haweswater from Castle Crag.
Riggindale from the col north of High Street.
Small Water from above Nan Bield.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: castle crag Hawesw.gpx

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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