• Andrew's TravelsNorthern Lake DistrictTraveler
    View of Catbells en route to Portinscale
    Suspended footbridge over the River DerwentLlamas in a field at Alpacaly ever after, an enterprise near KeswickOtterbield BayView of CatbellsView over Derwentwater from the west shoreTeddy in the Window, who has lived in a garage on the edge of Derwentwater for over 30 yearsView of Latrigg and Walla Crag from the bridge over the River DerwentSkiddaw, Latrigg, and Walla Crag in the backgroundCatbells viewed from the east shoreWalla Crag viewed from Barrow BayAshness Gate landing stage, with Catbells in the backgroundView from Catclose Bay of "the jaws of Borrowdale", the southern end of DerwentwaterFriars Crag; the poet John Ruskin MemorialFriars Crag; view of Lord's Island

    Derwentwater Lake Circuit

    May 19 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    The plan today is to walk around Derwentwater; we head down Keswick Main Street and cross the bridge over the River Greta before turning off to join the Cumbria Way as it runs along the west shore of Derwentwater; the Cumbria Way is a linear 70 mile walk that connects the towns of Carlisle and Ulverston. We walk towards Portinscale and then follow it to Hawes End Jetty; this is the landing stage for the main walk to Catbells, another of the Keswick 3 peaks.

    We follow the Cumbria Way to Otterbield Bay, and on past the two Brandelhow landing stages to Manesty Park at the southern end of the lake. We leave the Cumbria Way here and carry on to the cross the River Derwent again; there are great views of Catbells and Walla Crag from here. From Lodore, we walk northwards towards Keswick via the edge of woodlands to Barrow Bay and on to Ashness Gate landing stage (more great views). We then proceed via Calfclose Bay and Stable Hills to Friars Crag, named for its use as a disembarkment point for monks, making a pilgrimage to St Herbert's Island. It is a short walk back to Keswick from here; it has been a lovely 10.6-mile walk.    Read more