Guided Half-Day Walks at Derwentwater

   Up to 4 miles with some ascent

Each day’s half-day guided walking will be selected from the following provisional programme:

About Catbells

The ridge of Catbells is a familiar view from Keswick’s lakeside. Our walk will start from Littletown Church in the Newlands Valley beyond the ridge. Emerging from its shadow we shall skirt the base of Catbells, partly on the famous Terrace path overlooking Derwent Water, and then enjoy a lakeshore stroll before returning to Derwent Bank on one of the lake ferry cruisers.

Distance: 3¼ miles (with an option of more along the lakeside) with 200ft of ascent

Buttermere Round

A leisurely meander by this Cumbrian jewel of a lake. Even Wainwright, who treasured all of Lakeland, requested that his ashes be spread overlooking the Buttermere valley, high up on Haystacks. We’ll start at Buttermere and circle the lake by firm paths, accompanied all the while by a stunning mountainous aspect.

Distance: 4 miles with 200ft of ascent

Surprise View and Watendlath

High above the eastern shores of Derwent Water, beyond Ashness Bridge at Surprise View we can take a photo of the spectacular views across the lake. We’ll travel as far as the hamlet of Watendlath, which features in Walpole’s saga about Rogue Herries and Judith Paris. A well-used bridleway climbs briefly out of the valley, affording stimulating views towards the high peaks of Scafell and Great Gable as it descends to the woods and meadows of Borrowdale and Rosthwaite, our destination.

Distance: 3 miles with 300ft of ascent (descent 750ft)

Honister Pass to Grange

Honister Pass is the centre of a once thriving slate mining area, now a tourist attraction. We descend by the old toll road, now a grassy bridleway, which leads us gently down into the Borrowdale valley. Above the hamlet of Seatoller, our path joins the Allerdale Ramble, passes under Castle Crag and then follows the River Derwent into Grange.

Distance: 3½ miles on undulating (mainly descending) paths

Latrigg

From an elevated car park from which many set off for Skiddaw’s heights, a short ascent takes us to the summit of Latrigg and a superb view over Keswick and Derwent Water into the distant Borrowdale valley. We descend along the ridge and return via woodland and a footpath along the dismantled railway line into Keswick.

Distance: 3½ miles with 230ft of ascent