Described as ‘the route for all seasons’ Corvus is a Lakeland classic that will go in any condition. Its a gem of a climb steeped in history and set in one of the Lake Districts most beautiful hanging valleys.
Difficulty: UK Grade Diff
Gear: A small rack of nuts, some slings and 50 rope
Route Map
Approach
1 – (NY 26239 13761) The start is from the little car park in the centre of Stonethwaite Village next to the old phone box (which is now a mini library). If there is no space here, additional parking can be found on the verge closer to the main Borrowdale road (NY 25853 14113).
Please park conservatively.
From the car park head north back past some houses and take a left at a dead-end signpost and a sign that says “Borrowdale Church”. Follow the track through a farm and past a campsite to gate before taking a small path off left after another gate by some trees.
2 – (NY 25564 13809) Follow the path on the far side of the wall through a gate before it turns leftwards uphill. Combe Gill and Raven Crag can be seen looming up ahead in the valley beyond. Continue along the path up and into the Combe crossing the stream to join the main path up Glaramara.
Continue along this path for a few hundred meters and where it turns steeply right uphill, break left and traverse a small track into the upper valley.
3 – (NY 25056 12691) Continue along the path through a magnificent suite of hummocky moraines dating from the Younger Dryas Station (Circa 10,000 years ago!) and break up the slope towards Raven Crag,
The crag is split in the centre by a large gully (Raven Crag Gully), Corvus starts on the left hand side of the obvious slab forming the middle of the face, left of Raven Crag Gully.
The Climb
Pitch 1 – Climb a shallow gully on the right hand side of the slab before reaching a bay (optional belay). Climb the polished left wall through a groove (crux, often wet) to a ledge at the top of the slab.
Pitch 2 – Traverse left along the top of the slab and below below a groove to a belay.
Pitch 3 – Climb the groove and spectacular chimney to belay above. A great pitch.
Pitch 4 – Move up rightwards, then back left to belay right of a steep wall with a crack traversing out left.
Pitch 5 – Hand traverse the crack leftwards, with huge holds and good gear (hero photo opportunity!) before rounding the corner to a ledge. A belay can be taken here or just above.
Pitch 6 – Climb upwards through a recess to a large ledge.
Pitch 7 – Climb the scoop and groove to the top
Descent
4 – (NY 24804 11382) The easiest descent is to follow the eastern flank of the crag back round and under to the base of the route.
The path out of the Combe can be followed back to the car. Alternatively continue over several small craggy outcrops for a few km before reaching the summit of Glaramara and back from there.
Recommended Guidebook & Map
The best guidebook for this route is Lake District Rock (Wired Guides), which is available in Paperback on Amazon here.
The best map for this route is the Ordnance Survey OL4, The English Lakes, North-Western Area available on Amazon here.
Recommended Scrambling Guide: (coming soon)
Recommended Accommodation
Browse accommodation of all levels in Borrowdale on Booking.com here.
Route Info
| Distance | 5 km |
| Elevation | 725m +/- |
| Duration | 5 - 7 hours |
| Grade | UK Grade Diff |
| Transport | Car - Stonethwaite Village |
Navigation
| Guidebook | Best Book |
| Maps | Best Map |
| Guided Tours | Guides |
| Accommodation | Where To Stay? |
| Contributor | Who Contributed? |
Route Contributed by: Sam Wainwright
“I live for everything outdoors and to me a bad day in the hills still beats a good day in the office.”
Sam regularly publishes route blogs on his website Wainright Climbing here.
This route was created by Sam Wainwright and donated to the UK Scrambles website through our contributor program.
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