Lake District
Castle Crag (Shoulthwalte)
404M
1325FT
About Castle Crag (Shoulthwalte)
Tucked away above the Shoulthwaite valley near Keswick, this quiet Birkett is often overlooked in favour of its famous namesake in Borrowdale. It offers a rugged, wooded character and the remains of an Iron Age hillfort. The summit provides a superb, low-level perspective of the Helvellyn range rising sharply across the Thirlmere valley.
Key Statistics
Rank
597th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Central Fells
Prominence
?
12m
Nearest Town
Legburthwaite
Geology
You are walking across ancient volcanic lava flows called andesite. Look closely, as some of these rugged rocks contain tiny, naturally embedded garnet crystals.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY299188
Latitude
54.5602°N
Longitude
3.0842°W
Did You Know?
- •The 'Castle' in its name refers to a significant Iron Age hillfort located on the summit. The site is protected by triple ramparts on its western side, while the precipitous eastern crags provided a natural, vertical defence against intruders.
- •To avoid confusion with the lower, more famous Castle Crag in Borrowdale, locals and guidebooks usually append 'Shoulthwaite' or refer to it simply as 'The Castle'.
- •The summit offers a unique, framed view of the Helvellyn range; specifically, the soaring western face of Lower Man and the long ridge leading towards Great Dodd are seen clearly across the waters of Thirlmere.
- •While Alfred Wainwright omitted it from his primary seven-volume series, the hill holds a respectable place in the Synge and Birkett lists, serving as a prominent sentinel at the northern end of the High Seat ridge.
- •It remains one of the few locations in the Lake District where you can stand within the ruins of a prehistoric fortress and still hear the distinct gear changes of cars on the A591 below.