Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2023
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page

25th May 2022 - Castle Crag to Grange Fell

Walk Details

Distance walked: 8.2 miles

Total ascent: 2126 ft

OS map used: OL4 - The English Lakes, Northwestern area

Time taken: 6 hrs

Route description: Rosthwaite-Cumbria Way-Lingy Bank-Castle Crag-Low Hows Wood-Cumbria Way-River Derwent-Borrowdale Road-High Lodore-Watendlath Beck-Watendlath-Puddingstone Bank-Grange Fell-
Puddingstone Bank-Rosthwaite

A look outside first thing this morning confirmed that the forecast of rain had proved to be accurate. Fortunately it was set to clear late in the morning and brighten up to give a fine afternoon, though with it being windy, especially so higher up. That meant coming up with a route that was mostly quite low level and didn't venture too high up. After looking at the map of Borrowdale I decided on a walk starting from Rosthwaite that would take in Castle Crag, then cross the dale and visit the hamlet of Watendlath, and return to Rosthwaite via the bridleway across Puddingstone Bank with a detour up to the summit of Brund Fell, the high point of Grange Fell. I set off from Rosthwaite at 1100 under dull and overcast skies, though it had stopped raining. By the time I reached Castle Crag the cloud was starting to break up, and it continued to do so into the afternoon to give a mixture of fair weather clouds and sunny intervals. Just one Wainwright, Castle Crag, was added to my second round total.

From the NT car park in Rosthwaite I took the track west past Yew Tree Farm and onto the Cumbria Way, which I followed north to the bridge over the River Derwent. Soon after crossing the bridge I left the Cumbria Way for a footpath up the hillside of Lingy Bank to reach the Honister to Grange bridleway above, which I followed north towards Castle Crag. Once below Castle Crag I took the path up to the summit, returning to the bridleway by the same route. I then followed the bridleway north down through Low Hows Wood and towards Grange before leaving it to join the Cumbria Way again; along the track to Hollows Farm, then a footpath to the Grange to Manesty road, which I walked north along before taking a footpath on the right, east to a footbridge over the River Derwent and up to the Borrowdale Road. After a short walk south by the road I reached a public footpath on the left at Shepherd's Cottage (just before the Borrowdale Hotel), which took me up through woodland to Watendlath Beck, and then I followed a footpath by the beck's west bank up to the hamlet of Watendlath. From Watendlath I took the bridleway towards Rosthwaite, and on reaching its summit on Puddingstone Bank took a path on the right up to the top of Brund Fell, the high point of Grange Fell. After taking in the view I returned to the bridleway and followed it down to Rosthwaite, where I crossed the Borrowdale Road and made my way back to the car park.

Route map
Picture

Picture
Leaving Rosthwaite on the bridleway past Yew Tree Farm
Picture
Looking down Borrowdale with Castle Crag on the left and King's How on the right
Picture
The bridleway joins the River Derwent..
Picture
..and then crosses it
Picture
Great Crag, Rosthwaite, Eagle Crag down the Stonethwaite arm of Borrowdale, and Rosthwaite Fell from the footpath up Lingy Bank
Picture
Looking south as I join the Honister to Grange bridleway
Picture
Derwent Water appears ahead as I approach Castle Crag
Picture
A great view of Borrowdale as I reach the top of Castle Crag
Picture
A cloud-topped Skiddaw and Derwent Water to the north
Picture
King's How on the other side of Borrowdale
Picture
The cairn and memorial on the summit of Castle Crag
Picture
My descent takes me back down to the bridleway to Grange..
Picture
Picture
Walking through Low Hows Wood
Picture
On the footpath past Hollows Farm
Picture
Looking across Borrowdale to King's How
Picture
and back to Castle Crag and Goat Crag
Picture
King's How behind Grange as I reach the Grange to Manesty road
Picture
Briefly on the road to Manesty
Picture
I leave the road for the footpath east to the Borrowdale road
Picture
Manesty beneath Black Crag
Picture
Comb Crags, Ether Knott, and King's How
Picture
By the southern shore of Derwent Water at Great Bay..
Picture
Picture
Boardwalks across boggy ground to the bridge over the River Derwent
Picture
Derwent Water and Skiddaw
Picture
Crossing the River Derwent..
Picture
Picture
After crossing the Borrowdale road at High Lodore I follow a footpath up through woodland by Watendlath Beck..
Picture
Picture
Picture
This waterfall just a short distance below the path was worth a visit...
Picture
Picture
Following the footpath up the valley of Watendlath Beck to the hamlet of Watendlath....
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Looking across Watendlath Tarn to Great Crag
Picture
Across the footbridge over Watendlath Beck
Picture
A couple more photos from beside Watendlath Tarn..
Picture
Picture
Leaving Watendlath I take the bridleway across to Rosthwaite
Picture
Looking back as I make my way up onto Grange Fell to Watendlath Fell and Ullscarf on the right
Picture
On the top of Brund Fell, the high point of Grange Fell, and it's a bit windy. Looking north across the rest of Grange Fell to Derwent Water and Skiddaw.
Picture
and across the valley of Watendlath Beck to High Seat
Picture
Glaramara, Great End, Great Gable and Grey Knotts surround the head of Borrowdale
Picture
Heading down the bridleway to Rosthwaite in Borrowdale..
Picture
Picture
Castle Crag and King's How form the "Jaws of Borrowdale"
Picture
Back in Rosthwaite

Return to HOME
Return to Lake District Walks
Return to Walking Diary 2022
© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2023
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page