Castle Crag from Seatoller

This is a closed loop of 5 miles (8 km), the rounded official figure and the one stored here. Follow every mapped twist of the footpaths plus the out-and-back spur to the top and it measures nearer 5.3 miles, which is the same route rather than a different one. Allow around 3.5 hours, with the official window running from 3 hours to 4 hours 15 minutes depending on how long you linger on the summit.

Start from the Seatoller car park, walk through the hamlet and take the track uphill. After the stream, take the middle path up to the wall, then follow the contour path along the flank of the valley high above Borrowdale. Cross Tongue Gill, carry on past the first opening view down to Derwent Water, then take the sheep-track fork and the ladder stile. From there a short zigzag path climbs Castle Crag over loose slate quarry spoil to the top. Retrace the summit path back to the ladder area, take the alternate descent into the wood, then join the River Derwent past Rosthwaite and Longthwaite, through Johnny Wood, and back to Seatoller. Millican Dalton's Cave is a signed optional spur and is not part of the recorded main line.

Rated moderate, 5 out of 10. There is no sustained high mountain crossing, but the climbs are short and steep and the ground is rough. Expect uneven rock, pitched stone steps, and a summit ascent where the slate spoil can shift underfoot. On the riverside return there is one very short rocky section with a chain to hold. Slate underfoot gets slippery after rain, so boots with decent grip make a real difference.

The contour path gives long views down Borrowdale, and the first sight of Derwent Water stretching north opens partway along it. The summit itself is small and airy, and holds the Hamer war memorial. Add in the River Derwent, the old quarry workings, and the damp valley woodland, and the loop covers a lot of ground types in a short distance.

Castle Crag is built of slate, and the 19th-century quarry spoil is clear to see on the climb, with grey slate heaped across the upper slopes. Juniper grows on the crag flanks, and the valley woods below are Borrowdale wet temperate rainforest, thick with moss and lichen on damp bark and boulders. Sheep graze the open ground on the approach.

Start and finish at the Seatoller National Trust car park, on the left as you come into Seatoller from the B5289. There are toilets at the car park. Dogs are welcome, but keep them on leads around livestock.

The rough ground and the loose-slate climb make this a poor choice if you want smooth, easy walking, and the short chain-assisted step by the river will not suit everyone. If the Seatoller version is more distance than you want, starting from Rosthwaite joins the same loop and saves roughly a mile.