Keswick to Rosthwaite via Watendlath
Map to Rosthwaite
Distance: 7 miles
Total Feet of Climbing: 1500 feet
Suggested Time: 4 hours
Starting Point: Moot Hall, Keswick (NY 266 234)
This is a very varied walk. It begins with an ascent of Walla Crag: an excellent viewpoint overlooking Keswick and Derwentwater. There then follows a descent to Ashness Bridge with its inspiring views of Skiddaw. Then through a secretive valley to the sequestered tarn and hamlet of Watendlath before a short ascent and pleasing descent to Rosthwaite.
1. From Moot Hall, walk past The Lodge and the George hotel into St.Johns Street. Past the cinema and St.Johns church, the road becomes Ambleside Road. Just before the road begins to climb steeply turn right into Springs Road (0.5 mile)
2. Walk to the end of the road to Springs Farm. After crossing a small bridge at the entrance to the farm the route bears past a stable block and then follows the course of Brockle Beck. Ignore the first footbridge spanning the beck but continue for some 400 yards further on to a second footbridge. Cross the bridge and continue up to a gateway giving access to a roadway. (1 mile)
3. Here turn right and walk to the end of the road where another footbridge crosses Brockle Beck. On the other side is the start of a very distnct path which follows the line of a stone wall to the summit of Walla Crag. The summit cairn is a few yards behind the wall. (0.75 mile)
4. From the summit cairn continue Southwards along a well work path to a stile. Almost immediately after crossing the stile the path branches in two; take the left hand branch which contours the fellside. Some 200 yards from the summit of Walla Crag a path branches off to the left towards Bleaberry Fell. Ignore this path and keep to the broader path you are on, which after passing over Falcon Crag, descends to Barrow Beck which you should follow downstream to Ashness Bridge. (1.25 miles)
5. Follow the road which crosses Ashness Bridge uphill to the hmalet of Watendlath. (or alternatively where the road reaches a level course (about 0.75 miles from Ashness Bridge) branch right onto a broad path which leads to a footbridge spanning Watendlath Beck giving access to a path which follows the course of the beck to the hamlet). (2 miles)
6. From the hamlet of Watendlath, beginning from the outflow of the tarn it is situated by, a very distinct broad pathway leads uphill out of the valley. After a short climb the path descends into Borrowdale and the village of Rosthwaite (1.5 miles)
