To Force Crag Mine - a Coledale Low Round

Take the road signposted to "Newlands" from the centre of the village, cross the bridge over Coledale Beck to the village shop - which is open every day except Christmas day and sells bacon butties to passing walkers. Bear right into the 'dead-end' lane alongside the shop, not the one alongside the beck.

Follow this tarmac lane as it starts to climb and bears right. At the junction turn sharp left and continue climbing past the cottages on your right. Go through the gate at the end of the tarmac.

Continue on the rough lane. It passes a small covered reservoir and ends at the ruins of High Coledale. As the track turns right to the gate go straight ahead onto the grass, and bear slightly right to follow an initially faint path and then track in the grass close to the wall. Approaching the isolated tree, bear left slightly away from the wall, the path here is grass and reasonably clear to follow.

Traverse along the fell side. Sometimes the path is on grass with the occasional gravel patch, and soft wet sections. It never really climbs or drops down the slopes. It joins a higher path coming in from the left and continues along a line of sedge grass.

Approaching Birkthwaite Beck, maps show the path as continuing straight ahead and then drops down alongside the beck, without crossing it until the ford. However, it isn't clear and during wet conditions looks quite boggy. Instead follow the obvious path which crosses the boggy stream and bears left slightly to climb gently towards Birkthwaite Beck. Cross the beck and climb the bank. Cross the mossy patch and head for the track dropping down the fellside.

Bear right at the track, and at the junction turn right to drop down to the ford.

Cross the ford. In winter beware of ice on the stepping stones, an improvised crossing slightly upstream may allow you to keep dry feet. Climb up to the track and turn left to the mine.

Once you have explored the mine, return to Braithwaite on the gravel mine access track. Approaching the village, just beyond where the track clings to the side of a ghyll, bear off the track on to the way marked path dropping gently to the fence line. Turn left to follow the fence through the woods, and then to the Whinlatter road.

Turn right and continue along the road for 20m (22 yards). Turn sharply right onto a little path down to and across the wooden footbridge. Bear left into the village.