Route: leaving the car at the small car park by the road junction near the Thirlmere dam and walking north for 200m. Turning left steeply uphill on a small path through trees, twice crossing forestry tracks with the cliff of Raven Crag coming into view towards the top. At the shoulder turning left up a path with very man-made steps and board walk at the top to reach the view over Thirlmere. Descending back to the shoulder and turning left for 200m to reach the rather subtle remains of a fort at Castle Crag. Returning to the shoulder and taking a forestry track slowly downhill to the north above Shoulthwaite Gill (at one point doubling back) and then round to the east of the fell to join the paved road and returning to the car park.
Conditions: unnaturally warm and still for March.
Pub: the Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley for WPA and Cumbrian Five Hop.
