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Castle Crag & Grange from Seatoller

Lake District Walk

Nat Park - Lake District - Lake District North Western Fells

Wainwrights - Castle Crag

County/Area - Cumbria

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km    Ascent - 1400 feet / 424 metres

Time - 4 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Castle Crag & Grange
Click image to visit gallery of 6 images.

This is a popular Lake District walk starting from the small village of Seatoller in upper Borrowdale. The route can be simplified by omitting the climb to the summit of Castle Crag and dropping the short extension into the village of Grange.

The start is Seatoller reached by the B5280 from Keswick. There is a pay and display car park, which fills quickly in fine weather. Exit the car park and turn right along the road between the cottages. The road begins to climb as it heads for Honister Pass. Where the road bends to the left take the path ahead. This leads upwards quite steeply before swinging north and levelling off.

Continue on this clear path with good views of Borrowdale to your right. You cross a number of becks en-route of which Tongue Gill is the most prominent. Ahead, and looking quite diminutive, is Castle Crag. This was the lowest of Wainwright's Fells and it occupies part of what he describes as the loveliest square mile in the Lake District.

The climb to the summit of Castle Crag is worthwhile as there is a splendid view, both north and south, that encompasses the whole of Borrowdale. Return down to the main path using the same route and head through the cutting between Castle Crag and High Scawdel. The path descends now to reach the banks of the River Derwent in Low Hows Wood.

If you want to explore further then the short walk to the village of Grange is recommended. There are cafés and shops plus the often photographed bridge over the Derwent. Having explored the village retrace your steps but instead of heading back to Castle Crag remain beside the River Derwent for a pleasant walk through the woods.

Leaving the shade of the trees behind you pass through fields with the village of Rosthwaite a short diversion to your left. Remaining on the west bank of the river continue past the Youth Hostel to reach a section of path that is precarious in places with some handrails for assistance. Having cleared this section the remaining short walk back to Seatoller is straightforward.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1175 Combe Gill circuit from Seatollermoderate5.5 miles
Walk 1693 Grange & Watendlath from Rosthwaiteeasy/mod7.6 miles
Walk 3328 Eagle Crag & Seargeant's Crag from Stonethwaitemoderate7.0 miles
Walk 3133 Ullscarf and Watendlath from Stonethwaitemod/hard10.0 miles
Walk 1444 Great Gable (Borrowdale route)hard12.0 miles
Walk 1114 Scafell Pike via Corridor Routehard9.5 miles
Walk 1236 Styhead Tarn and Seathwaite Fellmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 1306 Base Brown & Great Gablemod/hard6.0 miles
Walk 2046 Great End via the north west face from Seathwaitevery hard7.0 miles
Walk 1826 Green Gable & Gillercomb Horseshoe moderate5.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking the Lake District Fells - Langdale

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Walking the Lake District Fells - Mardale and the Far East

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