Grange - Catbells - Maiden Moor - High Spy - Grange

Joe Jackson

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

Grange is a beautiful little village on the northern edge of Borrowdale. It sits alongside the meandering River Derwent, protected by the steep, craggy wall of Maiden Moor and Low Scawdel. The village is host to a couple of little cafes and tea shops which are perfect to stop at once the walk has finished.

The first section of the walk is very easy going along the minor road north towards Manesty. From here the route starts its ascent to Hause Gate via a well-constructed and very easy to follow path and once at the top, there is a short detour to the summit of Catbells. The view from 451m is spectacular; with no other fells close by to obstruct the panorama, it has to be one of the best vistas in the north-western lakes! After heading back to Hause Gate the route continues south around the edge of Bull Crag to the 576m of Maiden Moor. From here the view is excellent down to the Newlands Valley and the North Western fells.

The route continues to head south over Narrow Moor to High Spy, with its large, well-constructed summit cairn and again offers amazing views in all directions! The descent from the fell is via Tongue Gill and an old path alongside the beck down to the old miners' track heading north - south. The route passes between Low Scawdel and the smallest of all the Wainwrights, Castle Crag (of which a small detour can be made of about 1km and about 120m ascent to the summit). The last section heads past the River Derwent and Hollows Farm back to Grange.

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

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Industrial Archaeology, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mountains, National Trust, Public Transport, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Waterfall, Wildlife, Woodland

9/8/2014 - Robert Hughes

This is a great walk with wonderful views in all directions throughout. The directions are clear and easy to follow - indeed I found the junction of paths at WM12 easier to spot than the description implies and reassuringly the stile at WM13 soon came into sight. The descent of Tongue Gill is steep and could be difficult in slippery conditions. Finally the suggested extra of Castle Crag is well worth the effort up the very steep quarry path that begins about 300m after WM17. From the summit I retraced my steps to and crossed a ladder stile that then took me South East to the Cumbrian Way. Then head North along a delightful woodland path alongside the River Derwent the main route is re-joined just after WM18.