# Raven Crag > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raven_Crag > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raven_Crag.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Crag > Source revision: 1357065297 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Mountain in the English Lake District, Cumbria, England For the outlying fell in Dunnerdale, see [Raven's Crag](/source/Raven's_Crag). Raven Crag Raven Crag and Thirlmere seen from Benn Man 300 metres to the north. Highest point Elevation 461 m (1,512 ft) Prominence c. 45 m Parent peak High Seat Listing Wainwright Coordinates 54°33′35″N 3°04′40″W / 54.55963°N 3.07778°W / 54.55963; -3.07778 Geography Raven Crag Location in Lake District, UK Location Cumbria, England Parent range Lake District, Central Fells OS grid NY304188 Topo map OS Explorer OL4 **Raven Crag** is a [fell](/source/Fell) in the [English](/source/England) [Lake District](/source/Lake_District) that overlooks [Thirlmere](/source/Thirlmere) reservoir. It has subsidiary summits **The Benn** and **Castle Crag**. ## Topography The [fell](/source/Fell) is the high point on a 2-mile-long spur running up the western shore of Thirlmere, branching off from the main ridge of the central fells just east of [High Tove](/source/High_Tove). Subsidiary tops include The Benn (also known as Benn Man, 1,463 feet (446 m)) and Castle Crag (1,381 feet (421 m)), the site of an [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age) settlement. The ridge has been extensively planted with conifers as part of the Thirlmere Forest, the face of Raven Crag appearing as a lone oasis of naked rock amid the trees. Raven Crag is bordered to the west by the long valley of Shoulthwaite Gill, which is a tributary of the River Greta. To the north the ridge drops to a depression, crossed by the [Keswick](/source/Keswick%2C_Cumbria)–[Ambleside](/source/Ambleside) road, before climbing again onto [High Rigg](/source/High_Rigg). ## Geology Raven Crag and the Benn exhibit rock of the Birker Fell Formation, composed of [plagioclase](/source/Plagioclase)-phyric [andesite](/source/Andesite) [lavas](/source/Lava) with subordinate sills. Between the two is an area of [garnet](/source/Garnet) bearing [porphyritic](/source/Porphyritic) andesite. Castle Crag Fort overlays [volcaniclastic](/source/Volcaniclastic) [sandstone](/source/Sandstone).[1] ## Ascents The main face of the fell stands over Thirlmere Dam, and appears from there as a sheer 500 feet (150 m) crag, the higher fells behind being hidden by the ridge. Raven Crag is most commonly climbed from the dam, via a steep waymarked path through the forestry. This ends with made paths and some short sections of boardwalk. The ridge between Raven Crag and High Tove can also be gained from Armboth, or an ascent can be made from 'behind' via Shoulthwaite. This can include visits to The Benn and the earth ramparts of Castle Crag.[2][3] ## Summit The highest point is an outcrop of rock with a small [cairn](/source/Cairn), partially screened by conifers. The view from the summit is limited by the trees, but the eastward panorama opens up from the brink of the crag itself and there is an aerial view of the Thirlmere dam. The reservoir is also seen end on to the south. The Benn and Castle Crag provide a close-up view of Raven Crag from the north.[2][3] Looking down on the Thirlmere dam from the summit of Raven Crag. ## Notable Events It is said that sometime in the early 21st century, eager young lads, Daniel, Ingram and Reuben, were the first (and last) to descend the sheer east face of Raven Crag. After a poor sleep the night before, waking up at the break of dawn, they were ready to get back down and onto the trail. However, this quick decision proved to be poor. With a steepness well over 80 degrees, the descension quickly ended in nightmare. With the boy in the back of the group – Daniel, eventually falling as a result of his 100 litre backpack weighing down on his tired legs. He quickly tumbled into the other two members of the posse, and they all fell to the foot of the hill. At which, they were left for dead, only being picked apart by scavenging ravens, never to be seen again.[4] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BGS_1-0)** British Geological Survey: 1:50,000 series maps, *England & Wales Sheet 29*: BGS (1999) 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wainwright_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wainwright_2-1) [Wainwright, A](/source/Alfred_Wainwright) (1958). *[A Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells](/source/Pictorial_Guide_to_the_Lakeland_Fells), Book 3 The Central Fells*. Westmorland Gazette. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-richards_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-richards_3-1) Mark Richards: *The Central Fells*: Collins (2003): [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-00-711365-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-00-711365-X) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** gr4m1jc. ["Tales of The Lake District"](https://gr4m1jc.github.io/Tales-of-The-Lake-District/). *GitHub Pages*. Retrieved 17 May 2026.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list)) v t e Wainwright's Central Fells Armboth Fell Bleaberry Fell Blea Rigg Calf Crag Eagle Crag Gibson Knott Grange Fell Great Crag Harrison Stickle Helm Crag High Raise High Rigg High Seat High Tove Loft Crag Loughrigg Fell Pavey Ark Pike of Stickle Raven Crag Sergeant Man Sergeant's Crag Silver How Steel Fell Tarn Crag Thunacar Knott Ullscarf Walla Crag Full list of Wainwrights by area --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raven Crag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Crag) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Crag?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.