Route: Rosthwaite to Seathwaite and back
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 5th March 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.1 miles
Weather: Overcast, windy, light drizzle at times
We parked in the National Trust car park in the attractive village of Rosthwaite and headed across a field behind the village to Peat How. We joined the Allerdale Ramble here and this took us along the valley to the remote settlement of Seathwaite. We normally use Seathwaite as a springboard for the higher fells in the area and it felt odd to turn back at this point to walk along the other side of the valley, instead of heading up towards Stockley Bridge
After arriving at Seatoller we climbed up through Johnny Wood, descending again into Borrowdale. The route I’d planned meant crossing a ford back into Rosthwaite and Gilly wasn’t confident that it would be fordable, so she decided to retrace our steps back into Rosthwaite, while I stubbornly took the chance that I’d be able to get back across the River Derwent. The river level was above some of the stepping stones but I decided to give it a go rather than retreating and adding more distance to the walk
Walking poles gave me some extra balance and I made it across, just in time to see Gilly greeting me along the path from Rosthwaite – I suspect she was hoping to witness me fall into the river again. A previous fall had been the subject of much hilarity (for Gilly that is) when I slipped into a different River Derwent in North Yorks, losing a phone, camera and gps in the process – but worst of all my dignity
Thankfully there was no repeat of that disaster and today’s walk was a dry and very enjoyable one
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)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk at Rosthwaite, walking towards Yew Tree Farm
Having left Rosthwaite, we approach Peat Howe
Closer to Peat Howe
Crossing the River Derwent
Looking along the Derwent
Looking towards Seatoller Fell
Walking beside Nichol Dub
The dry stone walls around here seem to have been planted rather than built
Base Brown
Approaching the head of the valley
Timeless Herdies
Base Brown again
We follow a sign which has become part of the landscape
Sour Milk Gill
Seathwaite, supposedly the wettest place in England - but it stopped drizzling here and from here on it was a dry walk
Walking out of Seathwaite towards Sour Milk Gill
Sour Milk Gill
Looking back along the Derwent
Passing by the Borrowdale Yews
Looking back to Seathwaite and its fell
I’m not sure where Nichol Dub ends and the Derwent starts but this is one of the two
Seathwaite Bridge
Seatoller, with the start of the Honister Pass ahead - we turn right here
Entering Johnny Wood
Walking through the wood
The start of the descent back into Borrowdale
I walk towards the stepping stones - Gilly had decided that discretion is the better part of valour and had avoided this section
……and this is why - I gingerly made it across the slippery stones
Approaching Rosthwaite, and Gilly and Bonnie in the distance
Back to the start
