Keswick, Walla Crag and Ashness Bridge

Jim Grindle

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There is only a short stretch of road to be followed out of Keswick before open country is reached. In spring this is itself worth doing, as so many gardens are filled with azaleas. The route is well-marked, even named on the signposts; and it offers a varied day, with the walk through the streets, a climb on the shady edge of a wood followed by a steeper section to the top of Walla Crag. The descent is not steep at all, while the lakeside walk is a delight.

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

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, Mountains, Museum, National Trust, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Waterfall, Wildlife, Woodland

6/16/2024 - Marianne Burrows

Done this today beautiful walk. Careful on waymark 10: three paths, take middle heading down... not left hand heading up. Did this with my beagle fantastic views from Walla Crag.

9/3/2022 - John RICHARDSON

Thanks Jim for a beautiful and exhilarating dog friendly walk. We are fairly experienced regular walkers, and we thought this walk to be moderate not easy. However we seemed to lose the plot after waypoint 10 and we came down Cat Gill, which was a difficult descent requiring extensive use of poles. Should we have come down via Falcon Crag? When we finally arrived at point 13 we had been out for 3.25 hours and our nav aids suggested that we had covered 6 miles. At this point we were quite tired and jumped on the ferry.

11/23/2021 - Paul Mathers

Parking very expensive in Keswick but the local farm at waypoint 3 charges £4 for all day.

9/6/2020 - Alison Evans

There is currently a footpath closure alongside Brockle Beck between points 5 and 6. (September and October 2020) We were able to pass because they weren't actually working today, so I'm not sure, but I think you can divert via Castlerigg. We first did this walk a year ago, and I found it very hard. Now lighter and fitter I was keen to try again, but I still found it hard and was glad of my trekking poles! It is often loose underfoot and slippery as well, with lots of small streams to cross. Along the lakeside is also a scramble in places and we did some of it on the road. It is well worth the effort though, easy to follow with spectacular views, just make sure you are prepared.

3/12/2017 - Bill Simon

Opted for this walk with my wife Sarah when the higher fells were covered in mist, low cloud and drizzle. An easy half days walk from Keswick with stunning views. A short climb, level walking on the crag and enjoyable lakeside walking to finish. very clear route description, with no navigation issues.

2/27/2015 - Jim Grindle

I'm sorry, Debbie, that you had such a terrible day; any walk would be harder in bad weather and the day you describe would be life-threatening on the high fells. You were quite right to turn back but the walk grading wasn't ludicrous. You are right in that, despite guidelines, it is a subjective evaluation and I'm sure that I don't always get it right. Just for the record,though, on the day that I photographed the walk I was leading a group of pensioners and I was 71 not 21. Jim Grindle.

2/23/2015 - Debbie Pringle

We have done many walks over the years and the grading system is normally quite good. However, to say this is an 'easy walk' is quite ludicrous! The previous day we had gone on 'easy walk' I.D 7160 which was a lovely walk and just as described. However the following day the weather was very wet so we opted for this walk as it was again described as 'easy!!' The first couple of miles was continually uphill getting steeper and steeper until the rain had changed to heavy snow! We continued for a little while longer until the vision and terrain was so bad that it didn't feel safe to continue. I imagine on a lovely summers day the views would be well worth the hike, but to attempt it in bad weather as an easy walk would definitely not be recommended. I can only imagine that the person who graded the walk was a 21 year old athlete, and I will have to do it next time after more hours in the gym!! Treat this is a 'moderate' walk and you will be fine.

9/18/2013 - Peter Harris

We walked this today and the views are amazing! It's a fairly steep climb to begin with, though forest and then open land but whats at the end is worth it. Despite being mid-week and out of high season the middle part of the walk, especially around the 'Theatre on the Lake' was very busy with walkers and families. Lots of walkers and dogs through-out but we only came across two sheep and no cattle, and so would say its dog friendly. The walk along the beginning of the lakeside was very tricky with the tide being in but we battled on instead of taking the more boring road which rand along side. It soon evened out though through great woodland. Direction were great. Would highly recommend this walk, but not in high-season...unless you love hoards of people.