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5.79 km · ~312 m ascent · ~1.5–2.5 h · loop · 1 summit

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Raven Crag Easy Walk

5.79 km
Distance
~1.5–2.5 h
Typical time
~312 m
Ascent
1
Summit

Key facts

Distance 5.79 km
Ascent ~312 m
Descent ~305 m
Time ~1.5–2.5 h
Type Loop
A planned line is a suggestion, not a guarantee — conditions change. Navigate independently and carry a map & compass.

Difficulty profile

LengthEasy5.79 km — a short outing.
SteepnessHardSteepest sustained pull about 27% around the 0.9 km mark.
TerrainModerateMostly good mountain path. desk assessment — not field-verified
NavigationModerateClear line, hard to stray. desk assessment — not field-verified
ExposureNot assessedExposure (drops, scrambling, how bad a slip would be) can’t be judged from gradient data alone, so we don’t guess. A rating appears once the route is editorially assessed or walked.

Five independent axes, not one score. “Desk” ratings come from maps and guidebooks, not yet walked — treat them as a guide, not a survey.

Conditions on this route

We score every Lakeland Wainwright each morning on cloud, wind, rain and underfoot, and this route crosses 1 of them. The worst summit governs the verdict — a route is only as kind as its roughest top.

Modelled guidance — not a substitute for the mountain forecast or your own judgement. See how every fell ranks today →

☀️ Daylight & turnaround

Daylight is short from October to February — check today’s sunrise and sunset before you set off, and carry a head-torch and spare batteries. On short days, decide your turn-back time before you start.

OpenTopoMap
Elevation profile
Elevation profile Rises from about 176 m to 458 m over 5.8 km, with the summits marked in order. 458 m 176 m 0 km 5.8 km 1

1 Raven Crag

~312 m
Total ascent
458 m
High point
202 m
Start height

Free mapping: OpenTopoMap / OpenStreetMap (switch layers top-right).

This walk covers about 5.79 km with around 312 m of ascent, taking in 1 summit. The map above shows the line; the elevation profile and stage notes are below.

Access & barriers

Can a dog, a buggy or dodgy knees manage this route? A quick read from the gates and stiles mapped along the way.

Dog
Gates only
Buggy
Not buggy-able
Knees
Steep in places
  • Dog: Gates and kissing gates only — a dog can do the whole route.
  • Buggy: Stiles or rough going on the route.
  • Knees: A sustained ~19% descent around the 1.4 km mark — a little jarring on tired knees.

On the line: 12 gates · 1 step-over stile

These are mapped barriers, from OpenStreetMap — coverage in the Lakes is good but not guaranteed complete. Spotted a stile or gate we’ve missed? Tell us (opens in new tab) and we’ll fix it. Barrier data as of 2026-07-26. Access data © OpenStreetMap contributors (via Overpass).

Pacing

SummitCumulativeAscentTime (fast–steady)
Raven Crag1.3 km257 m0:42–0:55
Finish5.8 km312 m1:41–2:14

Naismith-based estimate — a fast/steady range. Your pace will vary.

The walk, stage by stage

Start → Raven Crag (1.3 km, 257 m)

Climb of about 257 m over 1.3 km (around 20% average).

Raven Crag → Finish (4.5 km, 55 m)

About 4.5 km with 55 m of ascent.

Stage-by-stage field notes coming soon.

Summits bagged (1)

  • Raven Crag 461 m · Central · Wainwright, Birkett, Fellranger, Synge

🅿️ Getting there & parking

Legburthwaite (United Utilities, small) — 1.3 km from the start (straight line)
St John's in the Vale — Sticks Pass side, High Rigg, Raven Crag.
Directions (opens in new tab)
Swirls, Thirlmere (paid) — 2.3 km from the start (straight line)
The standard west-side route up Helvellyn via Browncove Crags.
Directions (opens in new tab)

Positions are approximate. Lakeland car parks fill before 9am on fine weekends.

💧 No mapped drinking water or shelter on this route — that doesn’t mean there is none, and never drink untreated from a beck. (Facilities data © OpenStreetMap contributors.)

🚌 Buses

Stagecoach 555
Kendal – Staveley – Windermere – Ambleside – Rydal – Grasmere – Thirlmere (Wythburn & Swirls) – Keswick
Catch it from: Windermere · Ambleside
Year-round, roughly hourly. The backbone bus of the A591 — ideal for Helvellyn (Wythburn/Swirls), Fairfield, the Central fells and anything around Grasmere/Rydal. From Penrith, take the X4/X5 to Keswick and change.

Rural routes change seasonally — confirm on stagecoachbus.com (opens in new tab) or Traveline before travelling.

⚠️ Safety & conditions

Check live conditions in the “From the fells” panel, on MWIS (opens in new tab) and the Met Office mountain forecast (opens in new tab) before you set off.

Make it easier or harder

Easier and harder options coming soon.

⬇️ Download

Download GPX

GPX track for your GPS or phone.

📚 Maps & guidebooks for Raven Crag Easy Walk

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