3 Days in Borrowdale
We are not Wainwright Baggers. For those not in the know, The Wainwrights are 214 Fells in the Lake District, charted by Alfred Wainwright and bagging is the term for those that like to scale and work their way toward conquering all the fells. For us, they come (the fells) when opportunity presents itself and in early september we made the comparatively short trip from the South Lakes up to Borrowdale, a small, but beautiful valley just 3 miles south of Keswick. Simply with the thirst for the beauty Borrowdale offers and over 3 days go walkies and look for some fine views.
Friday
Shortest of the 3 days so we made the relatively short hop up Castle Crag from our base at Borrowdale YHA in Longthwaite.
Castle Crag is the minnow of the Wainwright Fells, the 214th in fact and not even 1,000 feet high, but it more than makes up for it, with stunning views of the valley and north toward Derwentwater. In fact turn the eye in any direction and the vista is breathtaking. The climb is moderately challenging but those views should never hurry your ascent.
Our descent and return to Borrowdale took in a tea cake stop at the lovely Flock Inn Tearoom, in Rosthwaite - very generous slices of cake and a lovely view of the valley.
Saturday
A round trip from YHA to Stake Pass, Angle Tarn and back to the YHA.
This walk will take you out of Rosthwaite and hug the Stonethwaite Beck toward the Langstrath Valley. The isolated Eagle Crag guides you toward the valley through charming stone walled paths.
The landscape then opens out to provide a wonderful open scape hugged by fells, before you start the ascent to Stake Pass, which is effectively the gateway to the Langdales.
The path upwards is a gentle zig-zag toward Stake Pass and the views back down the valley back to Borrowdale are glorious. We then took a south west path toward Angle Tarn. Your fell views are many with Pike O'Stickle, Great End and Glaramara all presenting themselves. The whole journey back to Stonethwaite is roughly 15 miles which is why we stopped at The Langstrath Country inn for a refresher!
Sunday
High Spy and the ridge to Catbells and Derwentwater and return home.
Time to scale some Fells in the literal sense, with a start by climbing High Spy which overlooks Borrowdale and was once home to lead mining. Your ascent, I guarantee, will be interrupted by the breathtaking views of the valley as you look back.
From the top we took a right to scale the ridge that includes Maiden Moor and leads you ultimately to the path toward Catbells, which is always a poplar fell for tourists and overlooks Derwentwater and Keswick.
The descent can take you either toward the Derwentwater path back toward Keswick or the walk back toward the Borrowdale Valley. From the village of Grange you can join the Cumbria Way and back through the beautiful High Hows Wood toward Rosthwaite and then the short trip to the YHA. A fine walk on a fine day and the culmination of 3 wonderful days in Borrowdale. A corner of the Lake District which has no rival in England. But then we're biased!