Route: Castle Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 18th June 2021
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Sunny and warm
Castle Crag and its neighbouring fell King’s How are known as the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’, and anyone who has driven into the valley will know why this is – these two sharp peaks form the gateway to Borrowdale, one of the loveliest square miles in the Lake District
We usually start this walk from Rosthwaite, which saves a mile or so, but today parked in the National Trust car park at Seatoller. For the second day running, the weather was glorious. We climbed up the fellside heading west out of Seatoller, and then joined the elevated path which runs along Borrowdale and has wonderful views over it
Castle Crag soon came into view and before long we arrived at the foot of the fell. Standing at 985 feet, it’s the lowest of the lakeland fells as classified by Wainwright, and the only one under 1,000 feet to make an appearance in his guides. Its rugged appearance and wonderful position caused Wainwright to break his own rule and to award the fell the ‘full treatment…a distinction well deserved’.
It’s a steep but short climb to the summit and near the top the path consists of loose slate, the remnants of quarrying which once took place here. After admiring the wonderful views we retraced our steps down the loose slate path to seek out the descent path down into Borrowdale, which enjoys more glorious views. We arrived back at valley level and here we joined the path by the bank of the River Derwent, which would be our companion for much of the return leg. All too soon we arrived back in Seatoller to end a superb short fell 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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The start of today's walk as we leave Seatoller
Views back towards the head of Borrowdale
Rosthwaite Fell
We aim for the elevated path which runs along Borrowdale
Looking back to Borrowdale
Castle Crag and King's How, known as the Jaws of Borrowdale
Looking back
Views of Borrowdale as we progress...
Approaching Castle Crag
Another view back along our path
We arrive at the foot of Castle Crag, and leave the main path here to join a fainter one on the right...
Much of the short 'there and back' climb consists of a steep zigzag path through loose slate (easier to ascend than descend)
Looking back down the path...
The path we'd followed along the valley is to the right of the picture
A wonderful view over Borrowdale from a flat area just below the summit
The River Derwent and Derwent Water from the summit of Castle Crag
Memorial plaque at the summit
View south from the summit
We retrace our steps to this dry stone wall and locate the path which descends back down into Borrowdale
The descent path is easy to follow and is without difficulties
The view on our right
More wonderful views over Borrowdale as we head down into the valley...
The River Derwent below
We arrive at the valley floor and join the Cumbria Way for a short distance
The River Derwent will be on our left for most of the return leg
We pass by New Bridge, which was new once upon a time
A view back to Castle Crag
We pass through the grounds of the Borrowdale YHA, where old walking boots are put to good use
The River Derwent
A rocky section at a bend in the river - a chain is provided but it's not really necessary and there are no dangers
Buttercup meadow in Borrowdale
The end of the walk is just around the corner
As we arrive back in Seatoller, a final glance back along our original path on the left and our return path on the right
Next day, a young red squirrel in the garden...
...and baby birds - blue tit, great tit, goldfinch, and four spotted flycatchers in the nest
