Hawes End Crow 1 Park High Low KESWICK Brandelhow Brandelhow 6 Cockshot Wood

N Lord’s Castlehead Island Springs 2 Farm

Calfclose Bay

Ashness Gate Landing Stage

Great 5 Wood Castlerigg Ashness Falcon Crag 3 Farm Bridge 4 Rakefoot

Walla Crag Go right through the gate and continue heads towards the wall ahead and then, about about fifty years ago when around the field. 75 metres before the wall, curves slightly left most of the land was turned to pasture. Here, the National Trust has eventually coming alongside it. Climb over the excluded sheep and controlled public stile on the right and bear left for 50 metres to When you reach the two gates, you will see the access to the lakeshore to allow special reach Walla Crag with its magnificent views over white front of Ashness Farm ahead and Ashness vegetation to regenerate. People and sheep Keswick and the surrounding fells. Bridge down on your right. Take the gate on the still shape the landscape of the National Park right in the fence and head straight down until and the designation of much of the Park as an 4 Leaving the viewpoint, with your back you join a path. Turn left through the gate in the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) is important. to the lake, take the path to your right which wall and descend onto the road and to Ashness Through the ESA, public money is used to help descends (south) towards an obvious stile in Bridge. This scenic and sturdy bridge, so often farmers maintain a 100 metres. Cross the stile and descend ten used in images of the area, is a widened packhorse beautiful landscape paces to a cairn. Take the left fork to follow a bridge - bridges over which the packhorses, carrying with a rich wildlife distinct path curving around the fellside ahead the area’s woollen cloth, travelled to market. as well as of you towards the head of . producing food. Continue along this path descending slowly 5 From the bridge go down the road (take (ignore a path off to your left). As the path starts care, there is no footpath) to meet the Borrowdale Eventually the to descend more steeply you can just see the Road at a T junction. Cross (with care) and footpath goes community of Grange in Borrowdale to the head take the steps down onto the lakeshore beside past Stable Hills of the lake. Grange got its name because the the jetty. (Walkers who would prefer to end the Cottage and monks of Furness Abbey established a walk now can check the time continues through a grange or farm here after buying much for the next launch back to gate beside a cattle of Borrowdale in the 12th century. When Keswick). Turn right and grid and along a Henry VIII dissolved the Abbeys in the continue walking along the wider track to pass 16th century, their lands lakeshore path beside the another house Grange in Borrowdale became the property of independent lake. (If the water is too on your left. and hardy farmers and the area became high to follow the shore, Furness Abbey Follow the track to take the next footpath on the famous for its coarse woollen cloth. As carefully follow the footpath left through a gate into woodland. Proceed along well as sheep, the farmers grew crops such as oats, beside the road just ahead until you are able to the edge of wood and across the footbridge barley, beans and a little wheat. These kinds of rejoin the shore path.) to continue along the path. Leave the woods crops were a part of the local landscape until by the gate and continue on the very obvious On reaching a path through pastures beside the shore. After tributary stream, passing through the next gate bear right at the take the foot- path junction to follow the path by the lakeshore bridge over it and towards Keswick, eventually continue on a path arriving at the boat landing stages. walking through the trees adjacent 6 The metalled road passes to the left hand to the lake. Follow side of the Theatre by the Lake. Turn left into the path as it Hope Park and right across the small bridge starts to curve to work your way to the other side of the park. left through thin Take the path for the town centre (signed) woodland. under the subway and bear right up Lake Road. Turn left at the T junction and follow the road to continue back into the square and the Derwentwater from near Walla Crag Moot Hall (1).

Sheep shearing in 1900s in shearing Sheep

curves round to the right. Initially the path path the Initially right. the to round curves stream and the woodland on your left. left. your on woodland the and stream

on the left. As the path begins to level out it it out level to begins path the As left. the on Crag. The path continues to climb with the the with climb to continues path The Crag.

path continues beside a valley with a stream stream a with valley a beside continues path a good view across to Walla Crag and Falcon Falcon and Crag Walla to across view good a

continue ahead on the left-hand fork. The The fork. left-hand the on ahead continue left at the edge of the woodland, where you have have you where woodland, the of edge the at left

In about 100 metres, where the path divides, divides, path the where metres, 100 about In Stone Circle). This footpath curves round to the the to round curves footpath This Circle). Stone

even if the tenants change. tenants the if even (FPS Rakefoot Farm, Walla Crag and Castlerigg Castlerigg and Crag Walla Farm, Rakefoot (FPS

flock of Herdwick sheep which stay with the farm farm the with stay which sheep Herdwick of flock Where the path splits take the right hand fork fork hand right the take splits path the Where

lease for a farm often includes responsibility for the the for responsibility includes often farm a for lease

Because of this, there is a local tradition where the the where tradition local a is there this, of Because climbs up through the woods for 200 metres. metres. 200 for woods the through up climbs

open fell, a characteristic known locally as ‘heafing’. ‘heafing’. as locally known characteristic a fell, open pass through a gate into the woodland. The path path The woodland. the into gate a through pass

2 well known for staying on their particular part of the the of part particular their on staying for known well and left keep splits path the Where

meat is sweet and full of flavour. Herdwicks are are Herdwicks flavour. of full and sweet is meat

and coarse and makes excellent carpets whilst the the whilst carpets excellent makes and coarse and road. road. the farmhouse. the

grey as the sheep get older. Herdwick wool is strong strong is wool Herdwick older. get sheep the as grey over the beck and walk up to a gate and farm farm and gate a to up walk and beck the over Continue ahead over the beck and to the left of of left the to and beck the over ahead Continue

distinctive brown fleeces which gradually lighten to to lighten gradually which fleeces brown distinctive wet) when (slippery footbridge a cross soon to then right to arrive eventually at Springs Farm. Farm. Springs at eventually arrive to right then

have lambs Their origin. Norse of be to believe ahead continue and gate kissing a through Go . The road bends left and and left bends road The . footpath) no is there as

people some which of the area for about 400 years. 400 about for area the of (take care and walk on the right hand side of the road road the of side hand right the on walk and care (take

Herdwick ram Herdwick

breed, hardy and a great influence over the economy and landscape landscape and economy the over influence great a road climbs a hill, turn right onto Springs Road Road Springs onto right turn hill, a climbs road

unique District’s accomplished farmers and wool merchants who had had who merchants wool and farmers accomplished Continue along the road then, just before the the before just then, road the along Continue

Lake the than woodland. The monks of these Abbeys were were Abbeys these of monks The woodland. than

Herdwicks, set to become mostly pasture and cropland rather rather cropland and pasture mostly become to set Parish Church of St. John. John. St. of Church Parish

be may sheep much of the land around Keswick, the valleys were were valleys the Keswick, around land the of much St. John’s Street and you will soon pass the the pass soon will you and Street John’s St.

the of Some Abbeys of Furness and Fountains came to own own to came Fountains and Furness of Abbeys the road bends left continue straight ahead onto onto ahead straight continue left bends road the

in the bracken. bracken. the in important. By the 12th century, when the Norman Norman the when century, 12th the By important. Where Square. Market the from exit hand left

hidden be may Norman Conquest sheep farming became very very became farming sheep Conquest Norman the take Centre Information Hall Moot the to

1 but present probably still largely forested, but following the the following but forested, largely still probably Standing with your back to the entrance entrance the to back your with Standing

often are sheep - fell the 10th century, most of the area’s valleys were were valleys area’s the of most century, 10th the

Please note that ‘FPS’ means footpath sign footpath means ‘FPS’ that note Please

Please keep dogs under close control on the open open the on control close under dogs keep Please Until times. Norman in industry farming sheep

Moderate Grade:

fell. the onto gate the for centre administrative an as developed it

3-4 hours hours 3-4 Time:

Continue ahead up the track and through the the through and track the up ahead Continue why is this and Borrowdale including valleys,

About 9 km km 9 About Distance:

on the right hand track (FPS Walla Crag). Crag). Walla (FPS track hand right the on here. Keswick is actually at the junction of several several of junction the at actually is Keswick here.

A FARMED LANDSCAPE FARMED A

the footbridge to the right and continue to climb climb to continue and right the to footbridge the There are lovely views down towards Borrowdale Borrowdale towards down views lovely are There

ASNESS BRIDGE - BRIDGE ASNESS (signed Walla Crag). Where the road ends take take ends road the Where Crag). Walla (signed left. the to Ghyll Springs with ahead continue

3 WALLA CRAG and and CRAG WALLA Turn right and at the fork bear right right bear fork the at and right Turn and right the on in coming path the Ignore

KESWICK WALKS

The Countryside Code The Lake District National Park The land in the Lake District National Park With its world renowned landscape, is nearly all privately owned and much of it the National Park is for everyone to enjoy, now and in the future. is farmed. Because of this it is especially important KESWICK WALKS that you use the Countryside Code to guide your It needs a prosperous economy, world class activities in the National Park: visitor experiences and vibrant communities, Walla Crag and which sustain the spectacular landscape. Respect, Protect, Enjoy Ashness Bridge Everyone involved in running ’s largest • Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs and much loved National Park is committed to:

• Leave gates and property as you find them • respecting the past • Keep dogs under close control • caring for the present • planning for the future • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home • Consider other people Lake District National Park Authority Murley Moss The fields and fells of the Lake District are Oxenholme Road pasture for sheep. Dogs do not have to attack Kendal sheep to cause them harm, particularly from late autumn through to early summer when ewes are LA9 7RL either pregnant or with lambs. Phone: 01539 724555 Please keep your dog on a lead. Fax: 01539 740822 Minicom: 01539 792690 Safe and Sound Email: [email protected] The weather in the Lake District can change very Website: www.lakedistrict.gov.uk quickly and you should always dress appropriately Artwork © Bob Henfrey. Photographs © Val Corbett, Keswick Tourism Association. for your activity: Publication Number 02/10/ND/2K • 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 Alternative formats Service 0844 846 2444 to check the forecast can be sent to you. before you leave A long but gradual ascent to an Call 01539 724555 • in case of an accident away from the road, outstanding viewpoint over Derwentwater, call 999 and ask for Mountain Rescue then via Ashness Bridge and the lakeshore, This leaflet is printed on recycled paper or a boat trip back to Keswick. Traveline: 0871 200 22 33

KESWICK WALKS KESWICK WALKS