Derwentwater Circular - Thursday 13 March 2025
Route
Keswick - Portinscale - Nichol End - Lingholm - Hawse End - Otterbield Bay - Brandelhow - Abbot's Bay - Manesty Park - Great Bay - Chinese Bridge - Borrowdale Hotel - Lodore Falls Hotel - Mary Mount - Barrow Bay - Calfclose Bay - Friar's Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty of town centre parking in Keswick
Mileage
11 miles
Terrain
A mixture of woodland tracks, lakeshore paths and some road walking on quiet lanes
Weather
A bright and sunny morning which became overcast in the afternoon
Time Taken
4hrs actual walking time
Total Ascent
1100ft (335m)
Map
OL4- The English Lakes - North Western Area
Walkers
Dave & Angie
Keswick - Portinscale - Nichol End - Lingholm - Hawse End - Otterbield Bay - Brandelhow - Abbot's Bay - Manesty Park - Great Bay - Chinese Bridge - Borrowdale Hotel - Lodore Falls Hotel - Mary Mount - Barrow Bay - Calfclose Bay - Friar's Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty of town centre parking in Keswick
Mileage
11 miles
Terrain
A mixture of woodland tracks, lakeshore paths and some road walking on quiet lanes
Weather
A bright and sunny morning which became overcast in the afternoon
Time Taken
4hrs actual walking time
Total Ascent
1100ft (335m)
Map
OL4- The English Lakes - North Western Area
Walkers
Dave & Angie
GPX Files
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
From 1 March 2025 GPX files will not be available directly from the walk page as there is difficulty in using a downloadable version from the website. To that end, if you require a GPX File please get in touch via the Contact Form below and we will gladly forward it to you - thank you.
Route Map
High Hill, Keswick - free parking on the roadside if you get here early enough. As my friends know, when it comes to paying for parking I'm a professional tight arse therefore if I can park safely for free then that makes the walk even better.
Today's walk was the classic circular of Derwentwater which is a pleasant enough outing on even the most glum of days. One thing that people need to be aware of is that after several days of rain some of the paths can become impassable due to the rising level of the lake. There are many cafes and rest stops on the route therefore take your time, relax and enjoy this beautiful walk.
Today's walk was the classic circular of Derwentwater which is a pleasant enough outing on even the most glum of days. One thing that people need to be aware of is that after several days of rain some of the paths can become impassable due to the rising level of the lake. There are many cafes and rest stops on the route therefore take your time, relax and enjoy this beautiful walk.
Looking over Keswick School to a snowy Skiddaw
The route heads out of Keswick via the B5289 which provides a great view of the North Western Fells
Crossing the Suspension Bridge over the River Greta into Portinscale
The Chalet Tearoom in Portinscale - we stopped and had our lunch here
The route continues through Portinscale and as the main road exits the village we turned off left to Nichol End. The route forms part of the popular walk to the summit of Cat Bells.
The slipway at Nichol End looking over Derwentwater to Latrigg
Passing the entrance to The Lingholm Kitchen - as we had just had lunch we gave the cafe a miss although we have been in many times
The route heads to the right of the main entrance to the Lingholm Estate
The house was built betwen 1871–1875 for Lt Col James Fenton Greenall (1834–1899), of the Greenall brewing family at a cost of £15,700 by Alfred Waterhouse. In 1900, it was purchased by the family of George Kemp, 1st Baron Rochdale. Beatrix Potter spent her summer holidays at Lingholm, where she wrote some of her best-known stories. Beatrix credited the Lingholm Kitchen Garden as her original inspiration for Mr McGregor's Garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She also wrote The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and the first draft of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle whilst staying at Lingholm. During World War I, the house was used as a hospital for wounded armed forces personnel.
Since 2013 the house has been owned by the Seymour family.
The house was built betwen 1871–1875 for Lt Col James Fenton Greenall (1834–1899), of the Greenall brewing family at a cost of £15,700 by Alfred Waterhouse. In 1900, it was purchased by the family of George Kemp, 1st Baron Rochdale. Beatrix Potter spent her summer holidays at Lingholm, where she wrote some of her best-known stories. Beatrix credited the Lingholm Kitchen Garden as her original inspiration for Mr McGregor's Garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She also wrote The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin and the first draft of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle whilst staying at Lingholm. During World War I, the house was used as a hospital for wounded armed forces personnel.
Since 2013 the house has been owned by the Seymour family.
Nothing to see here - just a bloke returning from taking an Alpaca for a walk
"Alpacaly Ever After" are a Cumbrian based team whose mission is to rehome Alpacas and Llamas from all over the country and give them a wonderful new home with the very best of care, while bringing people in touch with the landscape and the natural world through outstanding Alpaca and Llama experiences, accessible to all and surrounded by the beauty of the Lake District. They are based at 3 venues in Cumbria, one of which is at Lingholm and a link to their website can be found here.
"Alpacaly Ever After" are a Cumbrian based team whose mission is to rehome Alpacas and Llamas from all over the country and give them a wonderful new home with the very best of care, while bringing people in touch with the landscape and the natural world through outstanding Alpaca and Llama experiences, accessible to all and surrounded by the beauty of the Lake District. They are based at 3 venues in Cumbria, one of which is at Lingholm and a link to their website can be found here.
With a view ahead to Skelgill Bank & Cat Bells we crossed an area known as "The Park" towards Hawse End
Rowling End & Causey Pike across The Park
Just before Hawes End we parted company with the Cat Bells path and headed off to the left along the access road
Entering the grounds of Hawse End Centre
The facility is a residential outdoor training centre run by Cumbria Outdoors and delivers outdoor education, adventures, and experiences to children, young people, and adults.
The facility is a residential outdoor training centre run by Cumbria Outdoors and delivers outdoor education, adventures, and experiences to children, young people, and adults.
Leaving Hawse End the route passes through a gate and drops gently down to the lakeshore at Brandelhow
The route passes the first of several carvings in Brandelhow
The jetty at High Brandelhow looking over Derwentwater to Walla Crag & Bleaberrry Fell
Skiddaw & Blencathra across Derwentwater
On the jetty at High Brandelhow
The cupped hands sculpture known as "Entrust" which is sited in Brandelhow
The wooden sculpture of cupped hands commemorates the centenary of the National Trust’s first ever land purchase in the Lake District, 108 acres of the Brandlehow estate and was bought with money raised through public subscription. It is sad to see the sculpture in this state and over the years has become victim of lakeshore flooding which has seriously damaged it, probably beyond repair. Each time we have walked past here the sculpture has been in a different place and is quite a distance from where it was originally sited.
Come on National Trust - sort it out!
The wooden sculpture of cupped hands commemorates the centenary of the National Trust’s first ever land purchase in the Lake District, 108 acres of the Brandlehow estate and was bought with money raised through public subscription. It is sad to see the sculpture in this state and over the years has become victim of lakeshore flooding which has seriously damaged it, probably beyond repair. Each time we have walked past here the sculpture has been in a different place and is quite a distance from where it was originally sited.
Come on National Trust - sort it out!
Low Brandelhow jetty
At Grid Reference NY 25157 19726 the path splits. We headed off to the left continuing along the Cumbria Way, however this section is prone to flooding after heavy rain therefore if the level of the water is too high then the path to the right can be taken. This heads up to the minor road towards Manesty and rejoins the route further on - see pics below.
Original route
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Amended route
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Brandelhow Point
We pass to the right of an old shed plastered with letters from various people around the world - it is my understanding they are writing to the Teddy Bear in the window.
A bit longer for us as we would be visiting The Borrowdale Hotel first
Abbot's Bay & Otter Island
A welcome boardwalk section as we approach the southern end of Derwentwater - Grange Fell is to the left, Castle Crag centre and High Spy to the right
The southern tip of Derwentwater known as Great Bay looking north to Skiddaw & Latrigg
We continue treading the boards as we near the Chinese Bridge - the Lodore Falls Hotel is left of centre with Bleaberry Fell & High Seat beyond. The bridge is so called due to its shallow arch, and the wooden bridge the present one replaced was also known as Chinese Bridge due to the style of the bridge.
Angie on the Chinese Bridge with the River Derwent flowing below - our route would cross the bridge and turn immediately right. Most people crossing the bridge do so to reach or walk from the nearby Lodore Falls Hotel however the path is often impassable after rain. Therefore if you are hoping to use the path then have a back up plan should the way through be flooded (see below).
The Chinese Bridge from above after a "bit of rain". The path to Lodore can clearly be seen under the water - the route we took today is also underwater!!
Picture used by kind permission of Nigel Dixon (Lakeland Drone)
Picture used by kind permission of Nigel Dixon (Lakeland Drone)
The River Derwent from the Chinese Bridge
Fail to look down and you would miss this slate slab on the bridge. The inscription reads:
"Christopher Robin thought that if he stood on the bottom rail of the bridge and leaned over and watched the river slipping slowly away beneath him, then he would suddenly know everything that there was to be known"
A A Milne from "The House at Pooh Corner"
"Christopher Robin thought that if he stood on the bottom rail of the bridge and leaned over and watched the river slipping slowly away beneath him, then he would suddenly know everything that there was to be known"
A A Milne from "The House at Pooh Corner"
Shepherds Crag - a very popular climbing route
Thankfully dry today, we headed over fields to reach The Borrowdale Hotel which can be seen in the trees to the left
Been past it many times therefore we were looking forward to visiting it for the first time
Very nice it was too
Well, you've got to haven't you? At least the Coke was "Diet".
After stuffing our faces we crossed the B5289 and walked along the verge footpath for just under half a mile to The Lodore Falls Hotel
The path from the Chinese Bridge - no problems for anyone crossing over today
They do a very nice Cream Tea if ever you are hereabouts and also have a dog friendly area too. It's not cheap but it is exceptional.
The frontage of The Lodore Falls Hotel with the very popular spa over to the left
Just opposite the hotel through a gate is a path heading towards a landing stage
Breaking off from the landing stage path leads to the rear of The Mary Mount Hotel
The route crosses a footbridge over Watendlath Beck to pass through the grounds of the hotel
Over the road from the Mary Mount a stone stile gives access into Screes Coppice
Turning left over the stile we walked along a sunken path that runs parallel with the B5289
The sunken path leads to Kettlewell Car Park and the route continues on the other side of the road
Probably one of the most photographed landing stages in the Lake District - Ashness Jetty in Barrow Bay. Nothing arty farty from us today - we'll leave that to the professionals.
Calfclose Bay on Derwentwater
Known as the Millennium Stones or correctly as the Centenary Stones, tens of thousands of walkers will have looked at and wondered at this modern sculpture set in Calfclose Bay. The stones were actually placed here to commemorate the Centenary of the National Trust. Carved out of a boulder of volcanic rock from the Borrowdale Valley, the unusual design represents ten segments across ten rings, a century. The high range of lake levels means a variation from total submergence to standing marooned high on the shore.
Treading the boards for the final time as we head towards Friar's Crag and then on to Keswick
The Ruskin Monument at Friar's Crag
The monument was erected on 6 October 1900, shortly after Ruskin's death, largely through the efforts of Hardwicke Rawnsley. The monument consists of a monolithic block of Borrowdale stone.
John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) was an English writer, lecturer, art historian, art critic, draughtsman and philanthropist of the Victorian era. In 1871 he purchased Brantwood near Coniston Water and died there in 1900.
The monument was erected on 6 October 1900, shortly after Ruskin's death, largely through the efforts of Hardwicke Rawnsley. The monument consists of a monolithic block of Borrowdale stone.
John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) was an English writer, lecturer, art historian, art critic, draughtsman and philanthropist of the Victorian era. In 1871 he purchased Brantwood near Coniston Water and died there in 1900.
The superb view from the bench on Friar's Crag down Derwentwater to "the jaws of Borrowdale"
Derwent Isle
The Isle is home to Derwent Island House, a Grade II listed 18th-century Italianate house and is owned by the National Trust. It is leased as a private home, but is open to the public five days a year. The interior is neoclassical in style.
The Isle is home to Derwent Island House, a Grade II listed 18th-century Italianate house and is owned by the National Trust. It is leased as a private home, but is open to the public five days a year. The interior is neoclassical in style.
Keswick Launch HQ looking to Derwent Isle with Maiden Moor, Cat Bells & Causey Pike beyond
The final part of the route passes through Hope Park - I wonder if the cafe will be open?
Of course it was!