Lake District
16.9km/10½ miles 5½ hours
1 NY317195
Make sure you have a handful of change for the parking meter then exit the car park via a small gate at the northern end. Head down a gravel track and across the very busy (and dangerous) A591. Cross the attractive dam at the head of Thirlmere and turn right at the far side.
2 NY306190 Look out for a kissing gate on the left of the road and walk up the valley on a narrow but obvious path. Cut south at Castle Crag, then briefly east to reach Raven Crag's summit.
3 NY301189 Return to Castle Crag, then pick up a broad forest track down the hillside to the west of The Benn. Aim for a track leading through Shoulthwaite Farm. Come out on the A591 again, cross and enter a piece of defunct roadway that now serves as a car park. Cross the stile in the wall under High Rigg and take the path trending more north than east. It follows the edge of Open Access land, broadens into a track, then into a rough road terminating at the pass by Low Rigg. 4 NY301222 Take a clear path to the west over soggy fields to Low Nest farm. You'll hit the main road again for 50m, but turn off again soon to take the track east of north past High Nest farm, for roughly 1km. 5 NY292234 This path brings you out at the edge of the stone circle enclosure. Take in the ancient stones and then take the small road downhill, turning off near Goosewell Farm to cut the corner over fields.
6 NY299238 Rejoin the road, following it on, then right for just under 100m. A wooden footpath post will direct you south up Low Rigg.
7 NY304229 Pass over Low Rigg, descending to the pass at the diocesan youth centre. Climb through a gap in the wall, turn right on the road then left to pick up a narrow stony path that rises sharply. There are innumerable ways to cross High Rigg – part of the fun is finding your own way among hillocks and tarns. Keep aiming east of south, over Long Band.
8 NY316199 Below Wren Crag an obvious path drops to the main road. There, turn left, cross the bridge and soon left again to rejoin the track to the car.