Route: Castle Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 1st September 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.7 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: Cloudy with bright spells
The small but dramatic fells of King’s How and Castle Crag together form what are known as the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’. Having climbed King’s How yesterday and enjoyed some superlative views of Borrowdale we felt inspired to revisit the area and climb the other jaw – Castle Crag. Standing at 985 feet, this is the only fell below 1,000 feet to be awarded the full treatment in Alfred Wainwright’s classic Guide to the Lakeland Fells – ‘a distinction well earned’ according the the great man
We parked at the National Trust car park in Rosthwaite and followed the path to the River Derwent. After walking along its bank for a few minutes we turned off just beyond New Bridge to climb up Lingy Bank and join a wider track which brought us to the foot of Castle Crag and the start of a steep but short climb to its summit. The views over Borrowdale in one direction and Derwent Water in the other were wonderful
We retraced our steps for a short distance and then rejoined the track beside Broadslack Gill. On reaching the River Derwent we turned off and walked along the Cumbria Way through Low and High Hows Woods – a delightful section which brought us back to New Bridge and from there we retraced our steps back to the start
Borrowdale is one of the most beautiful areas in the country and it was a privilege to visit for the second day running
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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At the start of the walk in Rosthwaite we bump into an old friend - great to see you again Trevor!
Walking out of the village
We follow the path towards the River Derwent
The Jaws of Borrowdale - Castle Crag left and King’s How right
We need to cross the river, and decide to take the risk free option of the bridge further along the path
Castle Crag
New Bridge, which was new 200 years ago. It was damaged in the 2015 floods and is being repaired - this is the only angle I could get which avoided scaffolding and building equipment
We climb up Lingy Bank…
Wonderful retrospective views over Borrowdale near the top of the bank…
Rosthwaite
View from the top of the bank
We pass through a gate and join a wider track which will take us to the foot of Castle Crag
The view south towards Base Brown
Castle Crag, with Derwent Water through the gap - we turn off the path here to start the climb to the top
Looking back down to the path
Skiddaw in the background
Base Brown
We follow the zigzag path through the stones
Borrowdale, with Eagle Crag at the head of the valley
The old quarry just below the summit
High Doat and Johnny Wood
Derwent Water from the summit of Castle Crag
Rosthwaite and Borrowdale
…and that lovely view south again
We descend and turn right along the path below
The path descends gently to the River Derwent
We then follow the Cumbria Way through Low and High Hows Woods with the river on our left
We emerge from the woodland
Looking across the river to Eagle Crag
Having crossed New Bridge again we retrace our steps to the start
Rosthwaite - and the end of another wonderful walk in Borrowdale
Later that day, a red squirrel in the garden
