Castle Crag (Mardale)

Standing above the eastern shores of Haweswater, this rugged outcrop offers a prime vantage point over the Mardale valley. While modest in height, its craggy profile provides a sharp contrast to the rolling slopes of the Far Eastern Fells, making it a rewarding Birkett for those seeking the quieter, more dramatic corners of the Lake District.

• •The name is derived from the Old Norse 'kragg', meaning a steep or precipitous rock, while 'Castle' refers to the hill’s natural architectural profile which resembles a fortification guarding the entrance to the valley.
• •From the summit, walkers gain an exceptional view of the submerged valley of Mardale; in periods of extreme drought, the remains of the 'drowned' village of Mardale Green and its stone walls can sometimes be spotted from these heights.
• •Bill Birkett included this summit in his 1994 list of Lake District peaks, noting its position as a fine rocky terminal to the long ridge descending from Rampsgill Head and The Knott.
• •The summit provides a focused perspective of the 'Mardale Horseshoe', looking directly across the water to the steep eastern flanks of Branstree and the dark, craggy face of Harter Fell.
• •It is frequently confused with its more famous namesake in Borrowdale, though visitors here are far more likely to share the crags with a Herdwick sheep than a crowd of hikers.