Route: Seatoller
Area: North Western Lake District
Date of walk: 20th February 2020
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 4.7 miles
Ascent: 1,000 feet
Weather: Mostly cloudy with some sunny patches – a hailstorm and snow higher up
Two named storms in the last week – Ciara and Dennis – have kept me indoors for too long. More importantly they have wreaked havoc in different parts of the country. So far the Lake District has escaped the worst of the damage, although many roads and paths are presently inaccessible. After incessant rain during the morning, a window of opportunity for a walk presented itself, with some long awaited breaks in the clouds. Without ado I drove over to Borrowdale, one of my favourite walking areas
I parked in the National Trust car park in Seatoller, at the foot of the Honister Pass. I followed a path through Johnny Wood and at Longthwaite I joined the path beside the River Derwent. Fortunately the path was just above the river level, but it was sodden (as were most of the paths today) and for much of the time I was paddling through a stream. Beyond New Bridge I left the riverside path to climb up Lingy Path to the hause below Castle Crag. My arrival at the hause, the highest point of the walk, coincided with a hailstorm which was succeeded by a blizzard of snow.
I had entertained thoughts about ascending nearby Castle Crag, but abandoned these and set off on the return journey. I followed the elevated path above Borrowdale, which has wonderful views across the valley all the way. Beyond High Doat I turned left and descended back into Seatoller to end a walk in one of lakeland’s most beautiful valleys
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)
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Rosthwaite Fell from the National Trust car park in Seatoller at the start of today's walk
Looking back along the sodden path
Johnny Wood
Moss covered dry stone wall in Johnny Wood
After leaving the wood and descending to Longthwaite, I follow a path beside the River Derwent - Castle Crag in the background will be the far point of the walk
Castle Crag again
I pass by the ford leading to Rosthwaite - the stepping stones are submerged
I pass by New Bridge, which was aptly named once upon a time
The path continues beside the river, with Grange Fell in the background
I leave the river here and climb up Lingy Bank to the foot of Castle Crag
Looking back to Rosthwaite and the head of Borrowdale
Another view back to Borrowdale as I gain height
The far point of the walk, and from here I head back down the valley
My path will take me beside the dry stone wall in the mid distance
Castle Crag is temptingly close on my right, but without warning a hailstorm sweeps in
I decide to head back to the start
The lower slopes of High Spy...
Looking back to Castle Crag, and to Derwent Water making a brief appearance
The blizzard intensifies...
A final view back to Castle Crag
I now start to head back towards Seatoller
High Doat on my left
My path will take me above the dry stone walls to the right of the picture
Waterfalls in Tongue Gill...
Borrowdale...
Eagle Crag
Looking back to Castle Crag
The start of the short descent back into Seatoller
Seatoller, and the end of today's walk
