Route: Walla Crag
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 14th September 2017
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 3.6 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Light cloud with some sunny spells
We parked in the National Trust car park at Great Wood and followed the footpath heading south along the wood. We soon arrived at a sign pointing uphill to Walla Crag, which leads to the top of the fell via Rakefoot. We ignored the sign, as we’d chosen to climb up the path beside Cat Gill and this lies a little further along the woodland path
The path is quite steep and rocky at times (and is much easier to ascend than descend) but it provides a very quick way to the top and before long we arrived at Lady’s Rake from where it’s a short stroll to the summit. From here there are superb views over Derwent Water. It was a clear day and we could clearly see Scotland in the far distance beyond Bassenthwaite Lake.
We retraced our steps to Lady’s Rake and then followed the path which leads up to Bleaberry Fell, but we soon branched off that to walk above Falcon Crag in the direction of Borrowdale. We descended gently to Ashness Bridge, a popular beauty spot, where I took the obligatory photo to add to the thousands that have been taken from here
This marked the start of the return leg, and from the bridge we followed a path above the road and below Falcon Crag, with lovely views over Derwent Water all the way. This brought us back to Cat Gill and after crossing the footbridge we retraced our steps back to the start. It was a short but very sweet walk
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 squirrels in the garden yesterday, it's a busy time of year for them and they spend much of their time caching food in readiness for winter
Signs of autumn in Great Wood at the start of today's walk
The climb is steep, but there's nothing to frighten the horses
Cat Gill waterfall
The path beside Cat Gill...
Bonnie
Near the top of the gill
As we reach the top of the wood, views of Derwent Water open up
Onto open fellside
Looking back down our path
Falls near the top of Cat Gill
Falcon Crag, and Maiden Moor beyond...
...and again from higher up
The foot of Catbells
Looking into Borrowdale
We cross the ladder stile and the top of the fell is now in sight
Catbells
View from Walla Crag, looking over Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake
A closer view showing Keswick, and Criffel in Scotland in the distance
Rampsholme Island, St Herbert's Island, and Catbells again
We retrace our steps from the summit and aim for the snaking path up to Bleaberry Fell
Having branched off the path we walk above Falcon Crag, here looking over Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake
Looking back to Walla Crag and the path beside the wall which we'd followed earlier
The knobbly outline of Causey Pike top right
Head of Derwent Water and Borrowdale
Borrowdale Fells
The level of the lake is very high following recent heavy rain
We will turn right at the woods before Ashness Farm
Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake again
View from Ashness Bridge, no marks for originality but it's a lovely view all the same
Derwent Water from the mid-level path back to the start
Looking back to the head of Derwent Water
Approaching Great Wood
Great Wood
The car park is just around the corner - the end of today's walk
Back home, more red squirrel action...
