Dovenest Top [Dovenest Crag] [Stonethwaite Fell]

About Dovenest Top [Dovenest Crag] [Stonethwaite Fell]

Situated on the complex, craggy plateau of Stonethwaite Fell, this subsidiary summit offers a true sense of the Lake District's rugged interior. The terrain is a labyrinth of heather and rock, rewarding walkers with an exceptional, direct view down the wooded length of Borrowdale toward the distant fells of the Northern Range.

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Did You Know?

• •The name 'Dovenest' is thought to be literal, referring to the hollows and ledges in the nearby crags that provided nesting sites for stock doves or wild pigeons.
• •This top is identified by Bill Birkett as a distinct summit in his 'Complete Peak Bagger’s Guide', and its inclusion as a Hewitt and Nuttall makes it a mandatory visit for peak-baggers focused on the 2,000ft lists.
• •The summit provides an excellent overlook of the Combe, a deep glacial hanging valley to the west, where the impressive cliffs of Raven Crag drop away sharply.
• •Most walkers encounter this top while traversing the long, undulating ridge from Stonethwaite to Esk Hause; it is often bypassed by the main path, requiring a short detour across pathless, rocky ground to reach the cairn.
• •The ridge is so notorious for its undulating terrain and 'false summits' that reaching the actual top often feels less like a victory and more like a temporary reprieve before the next rocky lump appears.