This pleasing summer walk starts at The Cross above Broughton Mills. It soon takes you across the open fell below Caw, with fine views all the way. At a gate in the wall, on the right, you join a splendid walled way leading down to Stephenson Ground to join a narrow lane. This takes you along the flower edged way to the turn to Carter Ground. After passing through a magnificent garden a way through the bracken leads up to a very good path that winds around Raven’s Crag and returns you, delightfully so, to the parking area.

To reach The Cross, a large open space beside the fell road, take the Coniston road out of Broughton and then the signed road to Broughton Mills. Go past the Blacksmiths Arms. Cross the River Lickle and turn immediately right after the bridge. Carry on up the gated narrow lane for 1.5 miles to the summit at grid reference 215934.

Information

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 2-3 hours

Terrain: Footpaths, tracks and a narrow lane

Map: OS Explorer OL 6

1 From the parking area follow the signposted grassy track as it winds between hillocks, steadily bearing north east to pick up a wide reinforced track and turn left. Follow this for nearly a mile as it climbs steadily and becomes walled in places. It passes below the crags of Bacrow and then descends to the side of Long Mire Beck.

2 Pause to enjoy the view and then step across and take, right, a path, climbing a grassy slope and continuing through Long Mire below the craggy southern slopes of Caw and with rugged Fox Haw to your right. This is a lovely path but in several places, after rain, it lives up to its name. Remain on it for a mile, enjoying the glorious view of the valley ahead. Cross a rather wet area and head on along a good path tucked up to the left side of an ongoing long wall.

3 Eventually you reach a farm gate in the wall giving you access to a fine walled track. Take this delightful way, looking out for the bars of rock in the wall providing gaps which allow streams to pass through. At the wall end, go ahead passing the side of a building at Stephenson Ground. Pass through a gate onto the narrow fell road, edged with wild flowers, and walk right. Follow the lane as it winds a little left at Jackson Ground and then descends quite steeply to the entrance gate to Carter Ground, on the right.

4 Walk up the long track to pass in front of a charming white cottage. Carry on through the beautiful garden to a gate onto the fell. Keep on up on a narrow indistinct path, through the bracken, until you reach a reinforced distinct path and turn left. Stroll this lovely way, as it begins to wind round below Raven’s Crag.

5 Where the path splits, take the right branch to continue below the Crag. The path gradually leads down to the valley bottom path and crosses a wider track. Keep on the path, steadily climbing then descending and up again on the grassy track that leads to the car park. If you get a bit lost here nearly all the paths will return you, in a roundabout way, to your vehicle.

NB: Restrictions on space mean that this article provides a general summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map.