Route: Castlehead
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 28th March 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.4 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Cloudy with showers, improving later
This is an ideal short walk for families or for anyone who is staying in Keswick and has an hour or two to spare. Castlehead is a small wooded hill just outside the town, only about 500 feet high, but which commands a good panorama over Derwent Water and the surrounding mountains
I parked in Booths car park in the town centre and walked past Moot Hall in Market Square, following St John’s Street past the church, and then turning right into Springs Road. A little way along the road a sign points the way along a public footpath leading to Castlehead. I walked through the woodland, climbing easily at first before reaching a short rocky section which brought me to the top
The weather wasn’t particularly inspiring, being rather drizzly and overcast but the view was superb nevertheless, and I’d like to return here in better conditions. A metal dial here describes the 30 or so fells which may be seen from the top
I retraced my steps for a short distance before heading west out of Castlehead Wood to reach the Borrowdale Road. I crossed the road to join the path on the other side which leads round Strandshag Bay and Friar’s Crag. My arrival here coincided with an improvement in the weather and there were some good views across to Cat Bells and the north west fells. I walked along the shoreline, passing by the landing stages and the Theatre by the Lake, and then into Crow Park. After a short walk in the park I headed back to the start of a very pleasant amble
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
The start of the walk - Moot Hall in Market Square Keswick
St John's Church - its elegant spire features in some of the views later on
Springs Road - the path out of town is further along to the right and would be hard to miss...
Looking across to St John's Church
I follow the path into Castlehead Wood
After a short climb in rather miserable weather I arrive at the top
Cat Bells and Maiden Moor are well seen from here
Fresh snow on Causey Pike
Cat Bells
Bassenthwaite Lake in the distance
Looking across Keswick
After taking in the views I descend through the wood
Plaque commemorating the generous gift of this land to the National Trust
I leave Castlehead Wood and cross the Borrowdale Road
I follow the path towards Cockshot Wood
Looking back to Castlehead
And a view to my right to St John's Church and Skiddaw
Path to Strandshag Bay
Strandshag Bay
Walla Crag
I follow the shoreline path to Friar's Crag
Rampsholme Island
The John Ruskin Memorial at Friar's Crag
Cat Bells and Maiden Moor from Friar's Crag
Looking across Derwent Isle to Swinside
Head of Derwent Water
Zooming in on a misty Maiden Moor...
...and to the head of Derwent Water
I leave Friar's Crag to follow the shoreline path
Cat Bells, such an inviting summit
Boat houses on Derwent Isle
I arrive at the landing stages
Lakeland Mist, one of the Keswick Launches
Feeding the ducks and geese
I enter Crow Park, where visitors are admiring the recently unveiled plaque marking the status of the Lake District as a World Heritage Site - see my previous walk for more details of the ceremony
St John's Church, and Blease Fell leading up to Blencathra
A view from Crow Park to Derwent Isle and Cat Bells beyond
Zooming in on Cat Bells
Herdwick sheep in Crow Park - and from here it's a short stroll back into Keswick and the end of a great little walk
