| The start of the trek is Keswick. This is one of
the largest hubs for walkers and outdoor adventurers
alike in the Lake District. It is a great little town
which has everything you could ever want, it is bustling
with fellow trekkers and full of top quality outdoor
gear shops. The towns car parks are by no means the
cheapest and it will cost you around £6 to park
for the day.
The bus station is just down from the roundabout in
the centre of the town. Head towards the Booths supermarket
and you'll find the station, and near the cafe you'll
find the information board with times and services.
The bus that will take us to the start of our walk is
at time of writing this the number 79 also known as
the 'Borrowdale Rambler'. The service is hourly in the
winter and more regular with an extra service in the
summer. If you are unsure simply ask someone in the
station or the nearby shops as Keswick is a very friendly
place.
Once on the bus you will pass Great Wood and Walla
Crag on the left while the road heads along the east
shores of Derwentwater, eventually reaching Borrowdale
and passing through the village of Rosthwaite then round
to Seatoller where the bus terminates in the winter.
| 
High Doat Path |
Tongue Gill Path |
Seatoller is a pretty little hamlet buried in the far
corner of Borowdale. It has some great buildings including
the Lake District National Park Barn and the Yew Tree
cafe and bar. The latter was originally two cottages
built to accommodate german miners who in the 17th century
were employed to mine graphite from the surrounding
fells, the valuable graphite was used the making of
medicines, dyes, mouldings and pencils which are produced
locally. The Yew Tree is a great supply of refreshments
for the trek ahead.
Find the National Trust car park behind the bus turning
point area. Once there take the path that leads North
East from the end of the car park. The path slowly climbs
towards Johnny Wood. Once you reach the side of the
wood do not enter and instead follow the path up hill
along the side of the wood until it climbs higher and
higher towards High Doat. This is the only real ascent
of the whole trek as most of the trek after this is
downhill. Follow the path to the very summit of High
Doat. From this vantage point you can see one of the
best panoramic view over Borrowdale towards Seathwaite
and Stonethwaite with an awesome backdrop of Glaramara
and Great Gable peaks.
If you look North towards Derwentwater and Skiddaw
the foreground should reveal a small crag. This is our
next destination on the trek, Castle Crag. Descend the
western slope of High Doat down towards Scaleclose Gill.
Now pick up the Allerdale Ramble footpath which now
follows the foot of the High Scawdel crossing the footbridges
of Tongue Gill and Lavery Gill. You will eventually
come to the foot of Castle Crag. From the main path
a path leads up to the right, follow this until you
get to a stile that crosses a slate wall.
| 
Castle Crag Stile |
Borrowdale |
You will now be looking at a huge slate dump that towers
above you. A zig zag path tackles the slate dump and
reaches the small cairn where you will be confronted
with probably the best view of Borrowdale your ever
likely to see. Behind you is the remains of the old
Castle Crag slate mine. From here take the path that
continues upwards to the summit where the John Hamer
memorial plaque pays tribute to the first world war
heroes of the area. The views from this view point are
amazing, on a clear day you can see the mountains of
Great Gable, Glaramara, Skiddaw, Blencathra and all
the way over to Helvellyn. Alfred Wainwright wrote of
Castle Crag, “If a visitor to Lakeland has only
two or three hours to spare, poor fellow, yet desperately
wants to reach a summit and take back an enduring memory
of the beauty and atmosphere of the district…let
him climb Castle Crag.”
After taking in these amazing views from Castle Crag
head back down to the old slate mine and instead of
following the path over the stile turn right at the
mine and you'll fins another path down back to the Allerdale
Ramble footpath. Follow the path again down now towards
Dalt Wood. After entering the wood follow a fairly unclear
path to the left and you'll find the old quarries, one
of the old quarries has left a gorgeous lake and cliff
scene. Go back to the original path below and follow
it down to the River Derwent. Now simply follow the
path come track from the river bend north through the
campsite until you get to a T junction.
| 
Skiddaw above Keswick |
Dalt Wood Quarry |
At this T junction take the road to the right which
will lead to the small village of Grange. Settlements
on the site of Grange date back to the 7th century.
Sitting at the flood plain of the River Derwent where
it reaches Derwent Water, from the main road from Keswick
the village is most noticeable for its impressive 1675
built double arched bridge. Take time to look around
Grange as it has a a fascinating history that is seen
its many special buildings, and if you fancy a break
the tea rooms are just as special.
From Grange follow the road away from the village towards
the towering crags of High Spy, Castle Crag, and the
scree slopes of Maiden Moor. The road bends right then
passes the Borrowdale Gates hotel. Around half a mile
after the hotel where Ellers Beck passes under the road
there is a metal gate on the right that is the continuation
of the Allerdale Ramble. Take this path as it heads
over the marsh land on wooden walkways veering left
and eventually reaching the end shores of Derwentwater
at Great Bay. Now follow the path round as it goes through
the forest along the shores of Derwentwater.
| 
Derwent Water |
Blencathra |
You will pass the Brandlehow Bay area and the first
of the boat piers. If the journey is running out of
time then boats regularly visit the piers along the
shore and will be happy to take you back to Keswick
in complete comfort. However for those who wish to walk
back, cary on walking round the lake and for the next
few miles you can't really go wrong as the path weaves
through the forest and sticks close to the shore of
the lake. The views over towards Walla Crag and past
that to Blencathra are worth taking in.
After reaching Hawes End outdoor centre take to the
track and go right. Eventually you will get to a cross
roads with a sign post pointing to the saw mill on the
right if you carry on walking just to the other side
of the cross road you'll see the footpath to Keswick.
This now leads through a small piece of woodland then
to a large opening in the wood and then to another section
of woodland. After this mile long stretch of woodland
walk you'll reach the Nichol End marina area. At the
marina follow the road away from the marina until you
reach the road to Portinscale, turn right here along
the road until you reach the small village of Portinscale.
| 
Wooden Hands Sculpture |
Derwent Water |
Portinscale is linked with the nearby Castlerigg Stone
Circle due to a find of an axe dating back to the Neolithic
period. The name Portinscale actually means 'The Harlots
Hut'. There is some pretty huge stone buildings in this
unusual village. When the road bands to the left another
road goes right, follow this road past the hotel on
the right and too the Stormwater Bridge over the Derwentwater
outflow. Now follow the path over the flat fields and
back over to Keswick. |
Duration
: 6 Hrs
