Bowderstone Cottage and Hermitage

Local Climbing and Walking

The Bowderstone Cottage is superbly located for access to some of the best climbing and walking in the Lake District. In many cases it is possible to use public transport to access the crags and the walks, which saves the hassle of finding somewhere to park, particularly in the peak season.

Climbing

Walking

There is a wide range of high and low level walking that is easily accessible from the Bowderstone Cottage. The best map to have is the OS Outdoor Leisure map of the English Lakes North Western Area 1:25,000 scale.

Classic Low Level Walks

Around Derwentwater:

Take the bus or walk to the Borrowdale Hotel or Lodore and follow the well-marked path around the western side of the lake. It is possible to walk off road all the way to Nichol End where there is a tearoom. Continue along the road from Nichol End to Portinscale, where you will find another tearoom and a footpath into Keswick across the fields. Footpaths beside the B5289 will take you back down to Lodore but you could take the bus back to the Bowderstone Car Park or the launch to Lodore if you prefer.

Watendlath:

A charming place with a tearoom at Watendlath Farm, which can be accessed via a gentle footpath from Rosthwaite or from a steep one behind High Lodore Farm. You can then take the path across to Dock Tarn and down Willygrass Gill into Stonethwaite where there is a pub and another tearoom. Return to Rosthwaite beside Stonethwaite Beck and then walk back along the road.

Ashness and Keswick:

Walk up the steep path behind High Lodore Farm. Continue until you meet the road from Borrowdale to Watendlath. Turn left along the road and walk for a while, pausing for a breathtaking view of Derwentwater from above Lodore Wood. Either continue to Ashness Bridge and head off the road up to Falcon Crag, or take a diversion via Ashness Farm where you will find a tearoom. From Falcon Crag, continue past Walla Crag and down to Rakefoot. Follow the path through the woods and down into Keswick. Before you get into Keswick, you can take paths through more woods to bring you down to the landing stages from where you can take a launch back to Lodore.

Castle Crag:

Walk to the Bowderstone Car Park and onto Grange Fell on the far side of the car park. The path will take you back to the B5289 just before Grange. Walk into Grange where you will find two tearooms. Take the left turn in the village towards the campsite and head up along the Allerdale Ramble towards Castle Crag. A path to the left from the Ramble takes you to the top of the Crag from where there is a magnificent view of Borrowdale, including the Bowderstone Cottage. Drop down from the crag towards Rosthwaite, rejoining a loop of the Allerdale Ramble alongside the River Derwent. Follow the footpath to Rosthwaite where you find the Flock In Tearoom at Yew Tree Farm. You can either return along the road or take the Allerdale Ramble loop back to Grange.

The Big Stuff!

Scafell, Great Gable, Glaramara:

Take the bus to Seatoller or the car to Seathwaite. From here you can access Hind Gill, Styhead Gill, Sourmilk Gill and Grains Gill which will lead you to these high peaks.

Ulscarf, Greenup Edge, High Raise:

Take the bus or walk to Rosthwaite and walk alongside Stonethwaite Beck and up Greenup Gill to Greenup Edge.

Dalehead, Robinson, Hindscarth, High Spy, Maiden Moor and Catbells:

Take the bus or walk to Rosthwaite and walk up Tongue Gill via Rigghead Quarries to Dalehead Tarn. Alternatively, walk to Grange and take the footpath opposite the Borrowdale Gates Hotel that takes you up to the saddle between Maiden Moor and High Spy.

Fleetwith Pike:

Take the bus or walk to Rosthwaite and head towards Tongue Gill. Take the Allerdale Ramble to the left and continue up Little Gatesgarthdale, which brings you out at Honister Pass. You can ascend Fleetwith Pike from Honister Hause and perhaps fit in visit to the slate quarry too!