Route: Friar’s Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 18th June 2015
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.7 miles
Weather: Overcast and dull
Today’s walk was a stroll rather than a walk, but an enjoyable one all the same. Poor weather had scuppered my plans for a fell walk so later in the day I drove into Keswick to run a few errands. Whilst there, I decided on a short walk to a nearby beauty spot – Friar’s Crag. Ruskin described the view from here as one of the 3 most beautiful scenes in Europe
I walked out of the town through Hope Park, past the Theatre by the Lake, and down to the landing stages on the shore of Derwent Water
From there it’s a short walk to Friar’s Crag, from which there is a superb view along the length of Derwent Water into Borrowdale. I carried on the lakeshore path for a short distance before turning back and retracing my steps, making a quick detour into Crow Park for more great views of the lake
The good folk of Keswick are lucky to have such scenery on their doorsteps
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
I’ve not included the usual route map as this is a very short walk and it would be impossible to get lost – click on the icon below for a location map
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
Pied Wagtail in the garden before I set off for Keswick…
…and a Red Squirrel in the rain
Path from the shops to the lake beside Hope Park
Looking back to Keswick (Skiddaw in the clouds) from Hope Park
…and again
Entrance to Lady Hope’s Garden
Lady Hope’s Garden
I walk past the Theatre by the Lake
The landing stages at Derwent Water, looking towards Catbells and Derwent Isle. The island is inhabited by a very lucky person
Catbells and Causey Pike on the far side of the lake
Looking across Derwent Water
Looking along the lake to the Jaws of Borrowdale, and St Herbert’s Island caught in a sunbeam
Path to Friar’s Crag
And the wonderful view along Derwent Water which meant so much to John Ruskin
The Ruskin Memorial on Friar’s Crag
The inscription on the memorial
Looking along the lake to Rampsholme Island
Lookng back to Friar’s Crag - I retraced my steps just beyond this point
On the way back I took a short detour into Crow Park - this is Derwent Isle again with Catbells behind it
Causey Pike
Keswick
The well worn path up Skelgill Bank to Catbells
Castle Crag
Back to Lady Hope’s Garden
And almost back into Keswick
Back home, a nuthatch in search of peanuts
