Route: Borrowdale
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 18th January 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.2 miles
Ascent: 700 feet
Weather: Cloudy, several rain and sleet showers
The weather looked quite promising as I set off for Rosthwaite. An overnight dusting of snow showed the Borrowdale fells at their best and I was looking forward to another walk in this most beautiful of valleys. On arrival I parked in a deserted National Trust car park and walked past Yew Tree Farm along a track which is part of the Cumbria Way. After walking beside the River Derwent for a short distance I crossed New Bridge and left the Cumbria Way to climb up Lingy Bank. Last night’s snow made the going quite slippery at times
Near the top of the bank the weather started to deteriorate and as I rejoined the Cumbria Way near the foot of Castle Crag there was a torrential shower of sleety rain, or perhaps it was rainy sleet. Either way, it was unpleasant and the camera had to be stowed away. The timing of the downpour was bad as this section of the path is exceptionally beautiful with far ranging views ahead to the Skiddaw fells. These were completely obscured today. Earlier on I’d toyed with the idea of climbing Castle Crag but in view of the conditions I walked straight past it and descended as quickly as I could into Low Hows Wood
The path eventually arrives down by the banks of the Derwent and here I started the return leg through the woods, following a path which is beside the river for much of the way. More heavy showers accompanied me until I reached New Bridge again and from here I retraced my steps back to the start. I could have wished for better weather today, but scenery such as this never disappoints and it was an enjoyable walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Red squirrel this morning after another night of snow
Instinct dictates that a proportion of the nuts must be buried, even though they forget where where they've cached them and a ready supply is always at hand
Later on, the start of the walk as I pass by Yew Tree Farm in Rosthwaite
I follow the track towards the fellside
Herdies
Path beside the River Derwent, with Castle Crag on the right
Looking across Borrowdale to Grange Fell
New Bridge - which would have been an appropriate name for it 200 years ago
I cross over the bridge, superbly restored by the National Trust after flood damage in 2015
I turn left here to climb up Lingy Bank, and will return via the path on the right
Lingy Bank
Looking back into Borrowdale
The weather becomes bleaker as I ascend towards High Scawdel
Another view back into Borrowdale, with Eagle Crag in the background
The high point of the walk as I arrive on the Cumbria Way, here looking along the path to Seatoller
Looking back to Eagle Crag again
Castle Crag on the right
A 10 minute diversion to the right would take me to the top but the weather was miserable, and a heavy shower of sleet caused me to put the camera away
Low Hows Wood
I arrive at the bank of the River Derwent and turn right at this sign to start the return leg
View along the river
Walking back through the woodland...
The Derwent on my left
I leave the riverside path briefly
Leaving High Hows Wood
Bonnie
The circuit is complete as I cross New Bridge again
Eagle Crag again
Bonnie and I retrace our steps beside the Derwent
I arrive back in Rosthwaite - wet but happy
