Ascent: 800 feetRoute: Castle Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 17th October 2013
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 5.6 miles
I parked in Rosthwaite and walked along the bank of the River Derwent for a short distance before starting the climb up Castle Crag. At a height of 985 feet, this is the lowest of Wainwright’s lakeland fells and the only one below 1,000 feet. It’s easy to see why Wainwright included it, as it punches well above its weight, being rugged and having beautiful views over Derwent Water
It was a lovely day and the views from the top were superb. After savouring them for a while I made my way down and joined the Allerdale Ramble, which took me into Seatoller
The path then went through Johnny Wood, with the River Derwent on my right – a delightful section
All too soon I was back in Rosthwaite. Borrowdale is a beautiful valley in all seasons, but particularly so in autumn and the golden light today showed it at its best
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
Leaving Rosthwaite
The jaws of Borrowdale - Castle Crag on the left and Kings How on the right
Stepping stones across the River Derwent
I cross the river over New Bridge, easier than the stepping stones
Castle Crag ahead
High Hows Wood
Castle Crag is up to the right
The ascent route is through this slate pile, remnants of an old quarry
The John Hamer memorial plaque on the summit of Castle Crag
Derwent Water from Castle Crag
Looking along the Allerdale Ramble, my return route
On the way back down through the old slate quarry
Looking down Borrowdale
Kings How, the other jaw of Borrowdale
On the Allerdale Ramble and looking back over Derwent Water, with Castle Crag on the right
Further along the Allerdale Ramble
Looking back to Castle Crag
The Honister Pass
Seatoller
Johnny Wood
The path hugs the bank of the River Derwent for a while
Chains are on offer for this short rocky section but they’re not really necessary
On the approach to Rosthwaite, with Castle Crag ahead
Back in Rosthwaite
What a fantastic walk!
