Rosthwaite to Keswick via Watendlath - Wednesday 4 February 2015
Route
Rosthwaite - Watendlath - Surprise View - Ashness Bridge - Derwent Water - Friars Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty of parking in Keswick in order to catch the Borrowdale Rambler to Rosthwaite
Mileage
7.4 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout although there is some road walking to Surprise View and from there down to Ashness Jetty.
Weather
Snow on the ground, icy underfoot in patches but with clear visibility.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2319ft (707m)
Wainwrights
None (although a quick detour would enable a visit to Grange Fell)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
Rosthwaite - Watendlath - Surprise View - Ashness Bridge - Derwent Water - Friars Crag - Keswick
Parking
Plenty of parking in Keswick in order to catch the Borrowdale Rambler to Rosthwaite
Mileage
7.4 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout although there is some road walking to Surprise View and from there down to Ashness Jetty.
Weather
Snow on the ground, icy underfoot in patches but with clear visibility.
Time Taken
5hrs
Total Ascent
2319ft (707m)
Wainwrights
None (although a quick detour would enable a visit to Grange Fell)
Map
OL4 - The English Lakes (North Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
We'd had a long day yesterday up on Great Calva and The Cumbria Way therefore decided to keep it fairly easy today. We parked the car in Keswick and caught the Borrowdale Rambler to Rosthwaite in anticipation of a quick bit of tea & cake however nobody had told the cafe - it was sadly shut. We were to walk a lovely stretch today, taking in the picturesque hamlet of Watendlath, Surprise View, Ashness Bridge and the serene shoreline of Derwent Water.
Leaving Rosthwaite, we crossed the Borrowdale road and headed up to the junction of paths, taking the Watendlath path to Hazel Bank. The path then headed up a gentle incline where the views both to the front & rear really do open out. There was much snow and ice on the ground today, therefore we took our time and soon arrived in the lovely hamlet of Watendlath with its idyllic tarn and picturesque bridge.
Leaving Watendlath the route took us below Ether Knott as we hand railed Watendlath Beck for about a mile before crossing the bridge and taking the path to the Ashness Bridge/Watendlath access road. There was then a short road walk to reach Surprise View and the superb vista down Derwent Water that literally does take you by surprise as you reach the viewpoint. From Surprise View we headed downhill, again on the road to Ashness Bridge, perhaps the most photographed bridge in the Lake District - it must be judging by the amount of photographers hogging the area. There is then a last bit of road walking down to Ashness Jetty before heading along the shoreline of Derwent Water which drops you at Friars Crag, again another lovely viewpoint but extremely busy today.
We left Friars Crag and wandered past the theatre and into the bustling but lovely town of Keswick and a well deserved pastie - a fitting end to a very pleasant ramble.
Leaving Rosthwaite, we crossed the Borrowdale road and headed up to the junction of paths, taking the Watendlath path to Hazel Bank. The path then headed up a gentle incline where the views both to the front & rear really do open out. There was much snow and ice on the ground today, therefore we took our time and soon arrived in the lovely hamlet of Watendlath with its idyllic tarn and picturesque bridge.
Leaving Watendlath the route took us below Ether Knott as we hand railed Watendlath Beck for about a mile before crossing the bridge and taking the path to the Ashness Bridge/Watendlath access road. There was then a short road walk to reach Surprise View and the superb vista down Derwent Water that literally does take you by surprise as you reach the viewpoint. From Surprise View we headed downhill, again on the road to Ashness Bridge, perhaps the most photographed bridge in the Lake District - it must be judging by the amount of photographers hogging the area. There is then a last bit of road walking down to Ashness Jetty before heading along the shoreline of Derwent Water which drops you at Friars Crag, again another lovely viewpoint but extremely busy today.
We left Friars Crag and wandered past the theatre and into the bustling but lovely town of Keswick and a well deserved pastie - a fitting end to a very pleasant ramble.
Rosthwaite
Leaving Rosthwaite the route heads up the lane towards Hazel Bank
The two summits of Grange Fell - King's How to the left with Brund Fell to the right
Dale Head peeping out in the centre with High Spy to the right
Can I go in now?
Fells everywhere - Scafell Pike & Great End to the left with Great Gable in the centre
Curly, Larry & Mo
High Seat
Close up on Great Gable
A frozen Watendlath Tarn
Watendlath - very quiet today
Ether Knott
Sign in the ground near the bridge over Watendlath Beck - we were heading to Keswick
The bridge over Watendlath Beck
Derwent Water with Bassenthwaite Lake distant from Surprise View
Ashness Bridge - there were lots of the tripod, large camera and no manners brigade here today - we didn't hang around unfortunately
Ashness Jetty
Broken ice on the shore of Derwent Water looking over to Cat Bells & Maiden Moor
Skiddaw & Skiddaw Little Man over Derwent Water
Maiden Moor, Cat Bells, Skelgill Bank, Causey Pike, Outerside & Barrow across Derwent Water
Skiddaw again - we never get tired of looking at this view
Zooming in on Rowling End & Causey Pike