Route: Friars Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 13th February 2020
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.0 miles
Ascent: 100 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
I only had time for a short walk today, and decided to revisit Friars Crag on the east shore of Derwent Water. Friars Crag is a rocky promontory jutting into the lake about half a mile from the boat landing stages. John Ruskin described the view as one of the three most beautiful scenes in Europe
I parked in the large car park next to the Theatre by the Lake on the outskirts of Keswick. Before heading for Friar’s Crag I made a quick there and back detour into Crow Park, a place well worth visiting in its own right for the outstanding view to the head of Derwent Water. I then retraced my steps to the obvious path leading to Friar’s Crag, which passes by the Keswick Landing Stages. There are good views across the lake from the path, which is wheelchair friendly and easy to follow. Along the way I passed by Derwent Isle, owned by the National Trust. The house on the island is inhabited, and is open to the public for five days every year, making it the only inhabited island in the Lake District which opens to visitors
I soon arrived at Friar’s Crag, so named because it was believed to be the embarkment point for monks making a pilgrimage to St Herbert’s Island, located south west of the crag. The view was as wonderful as ever and after admiring it for a while I carried on around the lakeshore for a short distance until I reached Strangshag Bay. My time had run out by now and so from here I retraced my steps to end a short but sweet walk
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A walk in the park - Crow Park - before joining the lakeshore path to Friar's Crag
Derwent Isle
The glorious view to the head of Derwent Water
Looking the other way to Keswick, with Skiddaw towering over it
St John's Church Keswick
I return to the main path to Friar's Crag, and walk past the landing stages
One of the Keswick Launches
Causey Pike mid picture
Catbells on the far side of Derwent Water
I follow the path to Friar's Crag, which is wheelchair friendly...
Friar's Crag
Catbells again
Bench with a view, looking to the head of Derwent Water
The nearby Ruskin Memorial - 'the first thing which I remember as an event in life was being taken by my nurse to the brow on Friar's Crag on Derwent Water'
I continue around the lakeshore path to nearby Strandshag Bay
Looking across to Friar's Crag, with the summit of Causey Pike peeping through the clouds
Views from Strandshag Bay...
All too soon it's time to be heading back to Keswick
I pass by Friar's Crag again
The boathouses on Derwent Isle
Catbells
I arrive back at the landing stages...
A last view along Derwent Water at the end of a wonderful short walk
