Keswick to Rosthwaite via Watendlath
 Distance:
7 miles
Total Feet of Climbing: 1500 feet
Suggested Time: 4 hours
Starting Point: Moot Hall, Keswick (NY 266 234)
This is a very varied walk. It begins with an ascent of Walla
Crag: an excellent viewpoint overlooking Keswick and Derwentwater.
There then follows a descent to Ashness Bridge with its inspiring
views of Skiddaw. Then through a secretive valley to the sequestered
tarn and hamlet of Watendlath before a short ascent and pleasing
descent to Rosthwaite.
1. From Moot Hall, walk past The Lodge and the George hotel
into St.Johns Street. Past the cinema and St.Johns church, the
road becomes Ambleside Road. Just before the road begins to climb
steeply turn right into Springs Road (0.5 mile)
2. Walk to the end of the road to Springs Farm. After crossing
a small bridge at the entrance to the farm the route bears past
a stable block and then follows the course of Brockle Beck. Ignore
the first footbridge spanning the beck but continue for some 400
yards further on to a second footbridge. Cross the bridge and
continue up to a gateway giving access to a roadway. (1 mile)
3. Here turn right and walk to the end of the road where another
footbridge crosses Brockle Beck. On the other side is the start
of a very distnct path which follows the line of a stone wall
to the summit of Walla Crag. The summit cairn is a few yards behind
the wall. (0.75 mile)
4. From the summit cairn continue Southwards along a well work
path to a stile. Almost immediately after crossing the stile the
path branches in two; take the left hand branch which contours
the fellside. Some 200 yards from the summit of Walla Crag a path
branches off to the left towards Bleaberry Fell. Ignore this path
and keep to the broader path you are on, which after passing over
Falcon Crag, descends to Barrow Beck which you should follow downstream
to Ashness Bridge. (1.25 miles)
5. Follow the road which crosses Ashness Bridge uphill to the
hmalet of Watendlath. (or alternatively where the road reaches
a level course (about 0.75 miles from Ashness Bridge) branch right
onto a broad path which leads to a footbridge spanning Watendlath
Beck giving access to a path which follows the course of the beck
to the hamlet). (2 miles)
6. From the hamlet of Watendlath, beginning from the outflow
of the tarn it is situated by, a very distinct broad pathway leads
uphill out of the valley. After a short climb the path descends
into Borrowdale and the village of Rosthwaite (1.5 miles)
RETURN to Keswick by bus. Bus shelter and bus timetables are
at the entrance to the village (for an online Borrowdale bus timetable
click here)
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