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Grange & Watendlath from Rosthwaite

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District Central Fells

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.6 miles / 12.4 km    Ascent - 900 feet / 273 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Grange & Watendlath from Rosthwaite
Click image to see photo description.

Combining the delights of Borrowdale with the rural charm of Watendlath, this Lake District walk offers some wonderful Lakeland views and relatively easy walking. Route finding is generally easy although there is a steady ascent from Lodore up to Watendlath.

The start is the small car park in Rosthwaite (grid ref. NY257148), which can fill early in good weather. After parking exit the car park and turn right following the Cumbria Way down the lane, bearing right at the first junction to reach the River Derwent, which initially runs parallel to the route on your left. Cross the River at the first bridge (grid ref. NY252150) and continue downstream on the path running parallel to the river on your right.

Stay alongside the river ignoring a path going left and enter pleasant woodland on with Castle Crag rising to your left. The path briefly leaves the river as it meanders north to rejoin the Derwent. The path develops into a track and continues north to reach a junction of tracks (grid ref. NY249170). Bear left here staying on the Cumbria Way passing Hollows Farm to reach another junction (grid ref. NY248175). Bear right here keeping on the Cumbria Way and continue to a tarmac lane. Bear left along the lane before turning right to continue along a track signed 'Cumbria Way'. After 500 metres, bear right onto a path leading towards Lodore. This section of the route provides some good views of Derwentwater before crossing the River Derwent and exiting on the main Borrowdale Road.

Turn left along the road for 100 metres and take the "Entrance to Waterfalls" on your right. At the time of writing there was a small charge to enter these private grounds. There are many paths which can be confusing so a good sense of direction is required. Keep climbing through the woods. Turn left away from the Lodore Falls and then right along the base of a crag. Ignore paths on your left and keep with the stream on your right. Cross a ladder stile over a wall, turn right and cross the footbridge. Turn left and follow the clear path to Watendlath.

Do not cross the packhorse bridge. Instead keep ahead to the shores of Watendlath Tarn. Bear right away from the Tarn and start to climb to Puddingstone Bank. The retrospective views of Watendlath provide an excuse for a brief stop. Continue up to the summit of the path and begin the descent down to Rosthwaite. The path is a little rough in places and continues to a junction (grid ref. NY263155) where you bear left. At the next junction bear right and you are soon back in Rosthwaite.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1444 Great Gable (Borrowdale route)hard12.0 miles
Walk 3328 Eagle Crag & Seargeant's Crag from Stonethwaitemoderate7.0 miles
Walk 3133 Ullscarf and Watendlath from Stonethwaitemod/hard10.0 miles
Walk 1175 Combe Gill circuit from Seatollermoderate5.5 miles
Walk 1245 Castle Crag & Grangeeasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 2525 Standing Crag & Dock Tarn from Watendlathmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2526 Standing Crag, Ullscarf & Borrowdalemod/hard10.0 miles
Walk 1268 Cat Bells & High Spy from Grangemoderate8.0 miles
Walk 1065 Haystacksmoderate5.5 miles
Walk 1112 Great Gable from Honister Passhard7.3 miles

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