Date: 15/03/2026
Leader: Miles
Meet time: 9.15am
Start time: 9.30am
Estimated finish time: 2pm to 2.30pm.
Distance: About 8 – 8.5 miles (12.9 to 13.7 kilometres).
Ascent: About 2050 feet (625 meters).
Ramblers walk grading: B (Moderate).
Start point: Rosthwaite National Trust Car Park
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Car parking: There is the Rosthwaite National Trust Car Park. About five minutes walk away, south of Rosthwaite, there is Borrowdale CE Primary School and a lay-by nearby upon the road which has free parking. Highly recommend parking up before 9am to get parking.
(Car sharing may be possible – please contact the walk leader to arrange)
It is the responsibility of each walker to make sure they understand where to park. If you are not sure where the car parking/meeting point is, you must contact the walk leader at the latest the day before the walk. You should not rely on mobile phones or postcodes. There is often no mobile reception near walk meeting points and postcodes are for the nearest place nearby but should only serve as a guideline. Please allow plenty of time to find a parking space so that walks can start promptly.
Description: We take the bridge over Stonethwaite Beck and then pick up the Cumbria Way and head south and deeper into Stonethwaite. Once past Stonethwaite Bridge we pick up a steep path through the woods that runs close to Willygrass Gill. This is the one steep ascent of the walk with a pull-up of 250 meters. Once past the woodland the gradient eases and we come out into the heathery moorland.
The route makes a brief stop at Dock Tarn which is a lovely body of water surrounded by lumpy and heathery tumps and crags. From there we pick up a few trods to reach the top of the Great Crag coming in 440 meters and the highest point of the walk. At the summit most of the highest points of the Lake District can be seen: Skiddaw, Blencathra, Helvellyn and Scafell. There is also a direct view of Seathwaite valley and Honister Pass.
There is a brief descent and a gradual one as we head north to reach the path connecting Rosthwaite and Watendlath, after this is a gradual ascent to Grange Fell and one of the tops: Brund Fell (415 meters). Now Brund Fell is not the high point (that is Ether Knott, 419 meters, and a kilometre northeast) but it is the Wainwright top and this is sufficient. The views on top of Grange Fell are almost similar to Great Crag, except Skiddaw is more prominent and part of Derwent Water can be seen.
The best is yet to come when we follow a series of paths that leave Brund Fell and head over to King’s How (392 meters high). Of the three hills it is King’s How which has perhaps the best views for the entirety of Derwent Water can be seen.
For the descent we follow a winding path that skirts around the edge of the woods. This path becomes very steep – though there are stepping stones – as it cuts through the woods. When it levels out we head for Cummacatta Wood and the B5289. Thankfully there is a verge running parallel to the road which is wide enough to walk on. We stick to this for a few hundred meters until turning left and going over the two stone bridges which lead into Grange.
At Grange we stop at Grange Café, a very good spot, for either a late lunch or refreshments. After this it’s back over the stone bridges, along the road for a brief bit, and then from Cummacatta Car Park we pick up a path through the woodland and come to the last great sight of the walk: the great Bowder Stone.
For the last bit of the walk we’re briefly on the road again until entering Frith Wood which we walk through until intersecting once more the Rosthwaite-Watendlath path. After that it is an easy 5 minutes stretch back to the start point.
Please check the weather and bring appropriate clothing (waterproofs and spare warm clothing), footwear and enough food and water. The leader reserves the right to turn away any walker not suitably equipped. The leader may cancel the walk or modify the route dependent on conditions.
New members: please note the walk leader may ask for more information about your walking experience. This is to ensure you have the fitness required to complete the walk that is planned safely.
Attending: Please fill out the Registration Form to join by 10pm on Saturday 14 March if you are coming on this walk. If this doesn’t work then please contact the walk leader, Miles, on 07842 783319 (text or phone, WhatsApp, or message on Facebook (Miles Saunders-Priem)). When you register online, I will reply within 24 hours.
Registration Form
One form entry per person please. Resubmit the form if registering additional persons.
You may also wish to consider carrying an ICE card. Available here:
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