A Four Wainwright Day - Castlerigg to Watendlath

Richard Hardy

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This walk will require two cars (or a return on public transport), but it’s well worth it. Starting at the Neolithic stone circle at Castlerigg near Keswick the walk climbs up on the summit of Walla Crag, and then over Bleaberry Fell, High Seat and High Tove to reach the National Trust property at Watendlath. These four “Wainwrights”, though small, have the advantage of putting the walker right in the middle of the stunning Lake District scenary – let's be fair the one disadvantage to climbing Scafell Pike is that you can’t see Scafell Pike on the horizon!

Then once Walla Crag is left, you leave behind the numerous walkers that throng the better known summits. The views from the central ridge stretch from Blencathra and Skiddaw over Bassenthwaite Lake, sweep round to the Coledale Horseshoe, over the Derwent Side peaks of Catbells and Maiden Moor, to the distants Gables and Scafells, catching the Langdales peaking above High Raise before finishing with the Helvellyn ridge – who can complain about that?

There is a downside in that the path between High Seat and High Tove (an odd summit really in the grand scheme of things) will be boggy in anything other than drought conditions, but that short squelch is well worth it, as you descend into quintessential Lakeland countryside at Watendlath.

England - North England - Cumbria - Lake District - North West