Route: Derwent Water – Lodore to Nichol End
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 23rd September 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.1 miles
Weather: Mostly overcast
We parked at Nichol End near Portinscale and purchased tickets for 2 adults for the Keswick Launch (no charge for dogs)
After boarding the 10.35am launch (check the website for a timetable if you plan to follow this walk) we enjoyed a boat ride along the western shore of Derwent Water amidst wonderful scenery. Near the head of the lake the boat crosses over to the far shore and we disembarked at Lodore to start the easy walk back to the start
Just after Brandelhow Bay we took the higher of two paths. This has the disadvantage of leaving the lakeshore, but the advantage of being quieter and having some lovely views over the lake
We trod the familiar path through woodland and parkland and all too soon arrived back at Nichol End – a great walk in almost any weather
I didn’t realise until after the walk that I’ve now passed the 3,000 mile mark since starting this site in 2013 and have climbed nearly 500,000 feet. I hope that this is only the start of the journey…
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Red squirrel in the garden before we set off this morning
Squirreling hazelnuts away in readiness for winter
Later that morning, one of the jetties at Nichol End as we await the arrival of the Keswick Launch
Looking towards Skiddaw
Derwent Bank
The Skiddaw range from the jetty
Bang on time, here comes Lady Derwentwater
Catbells
Castle Crag
Catbells again, looking so inviting seen from the boat
Looking towards Borrowdale - we’ll be walking back along the shore to the right
Otterbield Island (not a fanciful name - we’ve seen otters in Derwent Water though sadly no photos to prove it)
Castle Crag again
Approaching our landing stage by the Lodore Falls Hotel
On terra firma now, the start of the walk as we pass by the hotel. There’s a very short road section and then we walk across the head of the lake
Looking across Cannon Dub towards Skiddaw
We cross the Chinese Bridge over the River Derwent
Facing Borrowdale from the bridge
Looking along the length of Derwent Water towards Skiddaw
Castle Crag, such an imposing feature despite its modest height
The boardwalk across the head of Derwent Water
The western shore of the lake looking towards Skiddaw
A last photo of Castle Crag as we head back north along the shore of Derwent Water
Walking through Manesty Park
Otter Island
Brandelhow Park
Brandelhow woods
We emerge from the woods above Brandelhow Park
Looking down to the lower path from the higher one
We pass by an old barn
Bonnie
Brandelhow Park
Back to the start at Nichol End
Back home, more red squirrel activity
