Castlehead

Castlehead

Route: Castlehead

Area: North Western Lake District

Date of walk: 28th March 2018

Walkers: Andrew 

Distance: 3.4 miles

Ascent: 400 feet

Weather: Cloudy with showers, improving later

This is an ideal short walk for families or for anyone who is staying in Keswick and has an hour or two to spare. Castlehead is a small wooded hill just outside the town, only about 500 feet high, but which commands a good panorama over Derwent Water and the surrounding mountains

I parked in Booths car park in the town centre and walked past Moot Hall in Market Square, following St John’s Street past the church, and then turning right into Springs Road. A little way along the road a sign points the way along a public footpath leading to Castlehead. I walked through the woodland, climbing easily at first before reaching a short rocky section which brought me to the top

The weather wasn’t particularly inspiring, being rather drizzly and overcast but the view was superb nevertheless, and I’d like to return here in better conditions. A metal dial here describes the 30 or so fells which may be seen from the top

I retraced my steps for a short distance before heading west out of Castlehead Wood to reach the Borrowdale Road. I crossed the road to join the path on the other side which leads round Strandshag Bay and Friar’s Crag. My arrival here coincided with an improvement in the weather and there were some good views across to Cat Bells and the north west fells. I walked along the shoreline, passing by the landing stages and the Theatre by the Lake, and then into Crow Park. After a short walk in the park I headed back to the start of a very pleasant amble

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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