Route: Castle Crag
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 16th July 2025
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Mixed cloud and sun
Castle Crag and its neighbouring fell King’s How are known as the ‘Jaws of Borrowdale’, and anyone who has driven into the valley will know why this is – these two sharp peaks form the gateway to Borrowdale, one of the loveliest square miles in the Lake District
We often start this walk from Rosthwaite, which saves a mile or so, but today parked in the National Trust car park at Seatoller, which has become my favourite starting point for the walk. The approach to Castle Crag from the path below High Scawdel is the finest approach to the fell and one of the best paths in the Lake District. We climbed up the fellside heading west out of Seatoller, and then joined the elevated path which runs above Borrowdale
Castle Crag soon came into view and before long we arrived at the foot of the fell. Standing at 985 feet, it’s the lowest of the lakeland fells as classified by Wainwright, and the only one under 1,000 feet to make an appearance in his guides. Its rugged appearance and wonderful position caused Wainwright to break his own rule and to award the fell the ‘full treatment…a distinction well deserved’.
It’s a steep but short climb to the summit and near the top the path consists of loose slate, the remnants of quarrying which once took place here. After admiring the wonderful views we retraced our steps down the loose slate path to seek out the descent path down into Borrowdale, which enjoys more glorious views. We arrived back at valley level and here we joined the path by the bank of the River Derwent, which would be our companion for much of the return leg. It’s an easy walk back apart from a slightly awkward rocky section just beyond the Youth Hostel at Longthwaite, where chains assist a traverse above the river. All too soon we arrived back in Seatoller to end a superb short fell walk
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
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The start of today's walk from Seatoller at the foot of the Honister Pass
Looking back down to Seatoller as we climb up to the path leading to Castle Crag
A young robin which followed our progress for a while
Castle Crag comes into view...
Castle Crag and King's How, collectively known as the Jaws of Borrowdale
We cross a footbridge over one of the various gills which tumble down from the fells on our left
Approaching Castle Crag
Looking back into the head of Borrowdale
Derwent Water appears as we leave the main path and start the ascent of Castle Crag via a path on our right
We climb a zig zagging path up the spoils of the old slate mine
Goat Crag below High Spy
Looking back along our path
Borrowdale from the summit of Castle Crag
The Hamer Memorial on Castle Crag, dedicated to the memory of 2nd Lieutenant John Hamer and the men of Borrowdale who lost their lives in the First World War
Looking back along the path which we'd followed from Seatoller
The River Derwent and Derwent Water
We retrace our steps from the summit, passing by a slate cairn looking into Borrowdale
Views of Borrowdale as we head down to the valley floor...
The River Derwent below. We join the path which runs along the river bank for most of the return route
We pass by, but don't cross, New Bridge (which was new at the beginning of the 19th century)
We follow a narrow path beside the River Derwent
We pass through the small settlement of Longthwaite
Beyond the Youth Hostel at Longthwaite there's a slightly awkward section at a bend in the river, where a chain is provided, more for comfort than necessity
We're now following a section of the long distance Coast to Coast walk, which we completed many years ago
The walk was the inspiration of Alfred Wainwright ('AW') and boasts some new waymarking
We continue along the edge of Johnny Wood
Seatoller is around the corner, and the end of a wonderful short fell walk
The following morning, a red squirrel in the garden
