Throstlehow Crag

Tucked deep within Upper Eskdale, this rugged Birkett offers a quiet, rocky vantage point beneath the towering mass of Esk Pike. While often overlooked by those rushing toward the Scafell massif, its summit provides an intimate perspective of the Great Moss and the tumbling waters of the upper River Esk.

• •The name originates from the Old English 'throsle', the traditional name for a song thrush, combined with the Old Norse 'haugr', meaning a hill or mound. It effectively identifies the crag as the 'rocky outcrop on the hill of the thrushes'.
• •Standing on the summit offers a spectacular and close-up view of the East Buttress of Scafell and the massive profile of Dow Crag, looking across the wild, marshy basin of the Great Moss.
• •The hill is frequently bypassed by walkers using the path between Esk Pike and the River Esk; reaching it requires a short but pathless scramble through heather and over small rock steps.
• •Despite its modest elevation of 404 metres, the long, arduous approach from the road at Brotherilkeld means visitors will have put in more physical effort to reach this summit than many people climbing much higher peaks elsewhere in the district.