Raven Crag still stands proudly overlooking the northern tip of Thirlmere, but the lower slopes around it look a little different than they did a few years ago, and the direct route to the summit does not look like the one Wainwright wrote about in 1958 or even the version of Clive Hutchby in his excellent 2016 revision.
Meandering up to Orrest Head on New Year's Eve
Perhaps the stroll to the top of Orrest Head has itself become something of a cliché as a gateway to Lakeland, but that's with good reason - it's a lovely little walk with views that far exceed the effort required to obtain them. What better way to introduce a German Shepherd puppy to the Lake District?