Friars Crag and Castlehead Walk (PDF) - Lake District National Park

From the wicket gate there is a choice of routes.
If you have limited mobility please follow
instructions 3 and 4.
If you are fully mobile, follow the instructions
in stages 5, 6, 7 and 8
If you look south here you can see the rocky fells
of Borrowdale whilst ahead of you are the smooth
fells of Skiddaw. The difference between the shape
of these fells and their contrast with the valleys’
pastures and lakes, is what make the views around
Keswick extra special. Here is the link to the desires
of those early tourists - beauty and majesty side by
side. In 1951 the significance of the Lake District’s
landscape was recognised when it was designated
as a National Park.
3
At this point turn around and retrace your
route to the boat landings at (4).
4
At the public toilets opposite the boat
landing stages turn right (FPS to Cockshot
Wood). Turn right at the crossroads of footpaths,
following the edge of the wood. Continue on the
defined path. Turn left at the T junction opposite
a field with views of Castlehead. Carry straight
on at the next crossroads of footpaths. At the
fork turn right down towards Lakeside . As
you enter the car park turn left towards the main
road (take care as there is no footpath). Exit the
car park opposite Hope Park. Retrace your route
back to the Moot Hall.
5
Turn right along the farm track and go
past the turning to a house to go through a
wicket gate to the right of a cattle grid and bear
right. The track ends at a cottage before which
you should take the footpath bearing left to go
around a field beside the lakeshore.
6
National Trust Centenary Stone
Another wicket gate takes you into a small
woodland on the headland at the edge of
Calfclose Bay. Bear left along the path to
descend to the shoreline. If you look carefully,
on your right down near the shore, you will see
the National Trust’s Centenary Stone. This
sculpture was placed here in 1995 to commemorate
100 years of the National Trust in the Lake District.
It is a tribute to all those who helped, in those
100 years, to preserve the area for future
generations.
Continue on the footpath around
the shore. The cliffs of Walla Crag
(another destination in our walk series)
rise above you. Soon you will arrive
at a stone cairn with a National Trust
sign. Take the path off to the left
(towards the bus stop). Do not exit
onto the road at the bus stop but
continue left on the footpath with
the road on your right. You are
walking along the edge of
Great Wood.
The footpath leaves the
woodland and continues
on a narrow path with a
wall on the right, by the
road and a fence on the
left. Continue through a
small woodland, crossing
a farm lane and going
through woods until the
path becomes narrow
again with a wall on the
left and a hedge by the
road on the right. Continue on the path until
you reach a path coming up steps to your left.
7
At this point turn right through the
gap in the wall, cross the road (with care) and
ascend steps through the gap stile. Turn left
and continue above the roadside wall for about
30 metres passing, on your right, a wooden
seat and memorial plaque to Sir John Randles,
who gave the wood to the nation.
Turn right when a wider path is reached and
continue uphill past a wooden bench.
At the brow of the hill a narrow track goes off
to the right to gain the summit of Castlehead,
emerging from woods onto a craggy viewpoint.
This stunning viewpoint allows you to see how
the area’s underlying rocks help to shape the
landscape of the National Park. On the far side of
the lake (and over behind Keswick) rocks, called
Skiddaw Slates, have weathered to form
fells with a smooth appearance.
In contrast, the fells on this
side of the lake are craggy
because their rocks
(Borrowdale Volcanics)
weather less easily
and more
irregularly.
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Calfclose
Bay
DERWENTWATER
6
N
View from Crow Park
Friar’s
Crag
5
Lord’s
Island
3
Great
Wood
4
The difference between the shape of the fells
over these two rock types and their contrast with the
valleys’ pastures and lakes, is what makes the views
around Keswick extra special. Here is the link to the
desires of those early tourists - beauty and majesty
side by side. In 1951 the significance of the Lake
District’s landscape was recognised when it was
designated as a National Park.
8
Crow
Park
Cockshot
Wood
7
8
Castlehead
Springs
Farm
1
Derwentwater
Descend by the same path back to regain
the main path by the fence corner (with care -
rocks on the path can be slippery). Continue
downhill to the right of the fence. The path
continues downhill curving slightly to the right
and then left before descending some steps to
a wicket gate. Go through and proceed on a
path between a hedge and a fence. Turn left
onto the road (Springs Road - take care, there is
no pavement) and then at a T junction, turn left
onto Ambleside Road. Soon, on your left, you will
see the sandstone building of St. John’s Church.
The road continues down into the town and
returns you to the Market Square and the
Moot Hall (1).
KESWICK

The Countryside Code
The land in the Lake District National Park
is nearly all privately owned and much of it
is farmed. Because of this it is especially important
that you use the Countryside Code to guide your
activities in the National Park:
Respect, Protect, Enjoy
• Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Keep dogs under close control
• Protect plants and animals,
and take your litter home
• Consider other people
The fields and fells of the Lake District are
pasture for sheep. Dogs do not have to attack
sheep to cause them harm, particularly from late
autumn through to early summer when ewes are
either pregnant or with lambs.
Please keep your dog on a lead.
Safe and Sound
wicket gate.
path emerges from the woodland at another
After crossing another small bridge the
(your final objective) is in view to your left.
the edge of the woodland where Castlehead
into woodland. Continue on the path round
small bridge and then through a wicket gate
opens out to your left. The path goes over a
your right. A view of the Skiddaw mountain range
through the gate and continue with the lake on
right and follow the path to a wicket gate. Go
and then walk back to a fork in the path. Turn
the Ruskin Memorial amongst the trees to your right)
Walk back from the main viewpoint (noting
the world for me’. What does the view mean to you?
experience that he described it as ‘the creation of
the view at the age of five and it was such a pivotal
place almost too beautiful to live in! He first saw
of the best in Europe and considered Keswick a
writer and social reformer. He declared it to be one
was made famous by John Ruskin, painter, art critic,
of Borrowdale and the high fells of central lakeland,
view from here, across Derwentwater to the ‘Jaws’
which soon leads to Friar’s Crag viewpoint. The
Where the path forks, take the right hand fork
quarter of the land in the Lake District National Park.
the National Trust owns and protects almost one
Rawnsley set up the National Trust in 1895. Today
debate. Along with Robert Hunter and Octavia Hill,
Honister forced the issue into Government and public
fight against a quarry railway from Braithwaite to
formation of the Lake District Defence Society whose
for its industrial potential. He was instrumental in the
The weather in the Lake District can change very
quickly and you should always dress appropriately
for your activity:
• if you are walking, wear strong boots, take a rain
jacket, some food and drink, a map and a compass
• call the National Park Authority’s Weatherline
Service 0844 846 2444 to check the forecast
before you leave
• in case of an accident away from the road,
call 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue
Traveline: 0871 200 2233
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benefits as well as
valuable for its spiritual and aesthetic
of his time; he was convinced that land was
(1851-1920). Canon Rawnsley was a man ahead
pass a memorial to Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley
Trust site to Friar’s Crag. On your left you will
becomes a gravel footpath entering the National
down on your right. Shortly, the metalled road
Continue along the road past the boat landings
Return to the pavement outside Crow Park.
K E S W I C K W A L K S
The Lake District National Park
With its world renowned landscape,
the National Park is for everyone to enjoy,
now and in the future.
It needs a prosperous economy, world class
visitor experiences and vibrant communities,
which sustain the spectacular landscape.
Everyone involved in running England’s largest
and much loved National Park is committed to:
• respecting the past
• caring for the present
• planning for the future
Lake District National Park Authority
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 7RL
Phone: 01539 724555
Fax: 01539 740822
Minicom: 01539 792690
Email: hq@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Website: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk
Artwork © Bob Henfrey.
Photographs © Val Corbett, Keswick Tourism Association.
Publication Number 02/10/ND/1K
Alternative formats
can be sent to you.
Call 01539 724555
This leaflet is printed on recycled paper
K E S W I C K W A L K S
live here.
to visit and later, many of the Lake Poets came to
account of his visit to Keswick inspired many others
Glass) to enhance the mood of the view. The 1769
views, often used special coloured glass (a Claude
Gray, who came in search of picturesque landscape
them, made Keswick an ideal place to visit. Thomas
horror and immensity’ of the landscape which, to
John Brown and Thomas Gray, admired the ‘beauty,
From places like this, 18th century visitors, such as
footsteps of some of the earliest visitors to Keswick.
detour down to the lake at Crow Park you follow in the
Crow Park is now on your right. If you take a brief
your left.
and Theatre on
Boats at Derwentwater
wishing well and continue with the Lakeside
have Hope Park to your right. Bear right at the
tinuing towards the Lake. You now
Subway to Lake). After the subway, turn left con-
of the road take the footpath to the left (FPS
road to the right (still Lake Road). At the bottom
Continue for 100 metres, then take the paved
Square by the right hand exit (Lake Road).
entrance of the Moot Hall, leave the Market
Standing with your back to the main
Please note that ‘FPS’ means footpath sign
Distance: About 5 km
Time: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy; Moderate if you
include Castlehead
FRIAR’S CRAG
and CASTLEHEAD -
TOURISM THAT LED
TO CONSERVATION
K E S W I C K W A L K S
Friar’s Crag and
Castlehead
A short but revealing walk to places that
inspired early visitors and the Lake Poets,
whose work came to shape our ideas about
landscape and its value. Less mobile people can,
if they wish, begin from Lakeside car park
and complete a circular route which avoids
the hill up to Castlehead.
K E S W I C K W A L K S
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