Castle Crag

Castle Crag

North Western Lake District

Route: Castle Crag

Area: North Western Lake District

Date of walk: 1st September 2016

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 4.7 miles

Ascent: 900 feet

Weather: Cloudy with bright spells

The small but dramatic fells of King’s How and Castle Crag together form what are known as the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’. Having climbed King’s How yesterday and enjoyed some superlative views of Borrowdale we felt inspired to revisit the area and climb the other jaw – Castle Crag. Standing at 985 feet, this is the only fell below 1,000 feet to be awarded the full treatment in Alfred Wainwright’s classic Guide to the Lakeland Fells – ‘a distinction well earned’ according the the great man

We parked at the National Trust car park in Rosthwaite and followed the path to the River Derwent. After walking along its bank for a few minutes we turned off just beyond New Bridge to climb up Lingy Bank and join a wider track which brought us to the foot of Castle Crag and the start of a steep but short climb to its summit. The views over Borrowdale in one direction and Derwent Water in the other were wonderful

We retraced our steps for a short distance and then rejoined the track beside Broadslack Gill. On reaching the River Derwent we turned off and walked along the Cumbria Way through Low and High Hows Woods – a delightful section which brought us back to New Bridge and from there we retraced our steps back to the start

Borrowdale is one of the most beautiful areas in the country and it was a privilege to visit for the second day running

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