Walla Crag

Walked on 01/09/2015

Start point: Love the Lakes, Keswick (NY 266 233)

Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick

Distance: 4.9 miles Total Ascent: 322 metres Time Taken: 2 hours Start Time: 10:00

Weather: Overcast but warm. 17°C

Today I took the opportunity for a relatively quick walk from Keswick (in between shop stock deliveries!) up to Walla Crag. Although dull to start with, the weather was ever improving throughout the walk. This walk will feature in a future edition of Trail magazine.

A lovely view across Windermere on the way to Keswick.

Blencathra from the climb to Walla Crag.

Skiddaw and Keswick from the plateau.

Lots of heather in bloom.

Looking towards Bassenthwaite Lake.

Dougal and Fletcher in the Ling.

Derwent Water.

Two youngsters try and work out the fells in view.

Bleaberry Fell clad in purple.

The Cat Gill descent.

Catbells.

The Millennium Stone.

Fletcher works out how he can get the two halves together.

Friar's Crag.

Clearing skies.

Walla Crag

Walked on 17/01/2015

Start point: Love the Lakes, Keswick (NY 266 233)

Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick

Distance: 4.9 miles Total Ascent: 322 metres Time Taken: 2 hours Start Time: 12:30

Weather: Frequent wintry showers. 3°C

The weather has turned wintry once more with plenty of snow around, especially in the northern lakes. There were lots of snow/sleet/hail showers around today and I decided to to a walk from the convenient base of our shop in Keswick to Walla Crag as the views from there are superb.

On the way to Keswick, a view across Windermere from Low Wood to The Langdale Pikes.

This roadside view across Derwent Water will be familiar to those who have visited Keswick following the A591and looked through the gate when descending Castlerigg Brow. This view was the decider for today's walk!

Winter wall on the climb to Walla Crag.

Causey Pike.

A fabulous panorama across Derwent water emerges during this climb.

Blencathra.

Bleaberry Fell.

Blencathra obscured by one of the many heavy winter showers.

Clough Head and The Dodds are getting a bit of blue sky.

Dougal and Fletcher don't seem too sure about the snow!

Looking along to Bassenthwaite Lake from Lady's Rake.

Behind you Dougal!

Brooding fells during a snow shower.

It's passed now.

Hello young Fletch.

Winter panorama.

All clear again across Derwent Water.

Sunburst in Borrowdale.

Bleaberry Fell from the descent.

...a couple of minutes later, all sunny again.

From there, the weather turned worse and became constant. Derwent Water was pretty full as this shot of the Millennium Stone and into Borrowdale shows, it was well away from the path today.

Walla Crag

Height: 379 metres / 1243 feet Grid reference: NY 27684 21285 Category: The Central Fells

Winter on Walla Crag

A panoramic view to the north-west from the summit of Walla Crag

Casper at the summit of Walla Crag

Walla Crag

Walked on 05/06/2013

Start point: Love the Lakes, Keswick (NY 266 233)

Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick

Distance: 4.9 miles Total Ascent: 322 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 11:15

Weather: Summer! 20oC.

Phew, what a scorcher as the run of superb weather continues in the Lakes. The day started off cloudless but soon built up after I set off from Keswick (in shorts at last!). a few weeks ago it felt like summer would never come…

Firstly, a few from the other day…

Lots of bluebells at Rannerdale.

Mellbreak across Crummock Water.

Casper and Dougal.

Rannerdale.

Buttermere.

Looking to Fleetwith Pike.

Buttermere boys.

Catbells - available as a 3:1 panormic canvas, looks fantastic as a 1.5 meter wide centrepiece in Bowness Love the Lakes!

Derwent Water panorama - 4:1 panorama also available on canvas. E-Mail me for further details. Early on today...

A perfectly clear day at Low Wood. ...and finally, the walk!

A beautiful summers day from Springs Road, Causey Pike peeping through the gap beyond Castle Head.

A Derwent Water panorama from the Castlerigg climb. From this point the clouds were building thick and fast although the heat was retained.

Blencathra and the Vale of Keswick.

Skiddaw and Keswick.

Heading for Lady's Rake.

Derwent Water.

The view from Lady's Rake.

The long tongue tells a story.

Derwent to Bassenthwaite from Walla Crag.

Clough Head and the Dodds from the summit cairn.

Sunshine and bluebells down in Great wood.

The Millennium Stone.

Lord of the Lake.

The view from Friar's Crag.

Derwent Water.

Walla Crag

Walked on 11/04/2012

Start point: Love the Lakes, Keswick (NY 266 233)

Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick

Distance: 4.9 miles Total Ascent: 322 metres Time Taken: 4 hours Start Time: 10:15

Weather: Clear spells and showers. 8oC

Today Connie and I were joined by a few families that follow StridingEdge and we had a lovely relaxed walk up to Walla Crag from Keswick. The weather was kind to us after recent days and it was great to chat to friends old and new along the way.

Skiddaw from Castlerigg.

Causey Pike across Derwent Water.

On the path to Walla Crag at Rakefoot.

Skiddaw 'erupting'.

Blencathra and a hint of brightness.

Following the wall to Lady's Rake.

Blencathra from the gate to Lady's Rake.

Looking to Bassenthwaite Lake from Lady's Rake.

Derwent Water and the north western fells.

Skiddaw.

Borrowdale from The top of Walla Crag.

'Who are all these people?' think the two safely tethered crust hunters.

Moody skies and a great view across Derwent Water with fresh snow on Crag Hill and Grisedale Pike.

Borrowdale from Walla Crag.

Keswick and the Skiddaw massif.

Looking towards Bassenthwaite, sunshine on Barf and Dodd.

The Dodds beyond the lunch stop.

Getting down with the kids - the StridingEdge.net walking group shot.

Sunshine on the descent to Cat Gill.

Distant Great Gable.

Descending Cat Gill.

Catbells across Derwent Water.

Connie and Casper at the Millennium Stone.

We just got caught by a heavy shower towards the end of the walk, looking across moody Derwent Water.

Connie climbing in Keswick

Walla Crag

Walked on 24/01/2011

Start point: Love the Lakes, Keswick (NY 266 233)

Love the Lakes, Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Love the Lakes, Keswick

Distance: 4.9 miles Total Ascent: 322 metres Time Taken: 1 hour 30 minutes Start Time: 11:15

Weather: Dull but clear. 6°C

Today I did a nice circular route from our Keswick shop up to Walla Crag before dropping back down to Derwent Water for a wander along the lake shore. The weather was ever brightening with a hint of blue sky once down to calm Derwent Water; this is a lovely shorter walk from Keswick and the climb to Walla Crag is relatively easy following this route.

Walla Crag route map.

A gaggle of geese on Springs Road.

Mossy wall, Springs Wood.

Catbells and Causey Pike across Derwent Water from Rakefoot.

All looks a bit gloomy over Blencathra this morning.

The view from Lady's Rake.

Casper checks out Love the Lakes Keswick branch from Walla Crag.

Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake from Walla Crag.

A panoramic view of Derwent water.

Bleaberry Fell from Walla Crag.

Mucky pups.

Catbells, Knott Rigg and Causey Pike.

The descent of Cat Gill.

Calm Derwent Water and a hint of blue sky.

The Millennium Stone, Calfclose Bay, Derwent Water.

Big sky and Catbells from below Friar's Crag.

Derwent Water.

The seat on Friar's Crag.

Walking on water.

Causey Pike from the landings.

Back at base camp.

Walla Crag

Walked on 28/06/2010

Start point: Rakefoot Lane (NY 282 226)

Walla Crag from Rakefoot Lane

Distance: 2.3 miles Total Ascent: 327 metres Time Taken: 50 minutes Start Time: 08:50

Weather: Bright, sunny and warm. 21C

It was lovely and sunny once more over Keswick this morning and I managed to squeeze in a quick walk up to Walla Crag before heading into Keswick to see how the Love the Lakes shop fit was getting on. It was good to get out with a bit of sunshine on my back again and Dougal and Casper certainly enjoyed the walk. There weren’t many places to have a drink for them as it is so dry so they had to be content with the remaining puddles in Brockle Beck on the return.

An excerpt from the 1903 revision of the OS map clearly shows Walla Crag as 'Wallow Crag' - it must have ended up being spelt how it was said. Keswick looks a lot smaller in those days too! This map printed on linen backing belonged to Louise's grandfather and was the map he used up on the fells back then.

A good floral display at Castlerigg Hall Farm.

Foxgloves on the climb and peek-a-boo Casper.

Dougal leads the way on the path to Walla Crag.

The view to Bassenthwaite Lake.

Following the wall.

All alone on the summit of Walla Crag.

The Skiddaw massif and Keswick.

A fabulous view of Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake.

Lady's Rake and Borrowdale.

Dougal and Casper on Walla Crag.

It is a lovely day over Keswick.

Looking across to Causey Pike and Crag Hill.

A panoramic view of Keswick and Skiddaw.

The Newlands Valley across Derwent water from the very edge of the crag.

Whinlatter and Barf across Derwent Water, Lord's Isle and Derwent Isle are the two islands.

Keswick - I think I can see the new Love the Lakes shop down there!

Last time I was here (in January) there was a bit of a blizzard...

Looking back to Walla Crag.

Bleaberry Fell.

Blencathra on the way down.

Dry Brockle Beck. A short drive later...

Ashness Bridge.

Surprise View.

A panoramic shot from Surprise View. Even later... The Love the Lakes shop in Bowness is being repainted and this 1970's looking sign was uncovered when the fascia was rubbed down...

'Ginnel Bazaar Gift Shop'.

Walla Crag

Walked on 12/01/2010

Start point: Rakefoot Lane (NY 282 226)

Rakefoot Lane – Castlerigg Farm – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Nest Brow – High Nest – Castlerigg Stone Circle – Rakefoot Lane

Distance: 4.7 miles Total Ascent: 246 metres Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Cold and windy. 3°C

The temperature has warmed since last week and there has been some thaw over the last couple of days. We had a short walk from Rakefoot Lane up to Walla Crag – it was supposed to be an easier walk to give Dougal a taste of winter conditions but as it turned out, the weather up there was quite severe so it was a good job we were only going a short way! We returned via Castlerigg Stone Circle and en route we were recognised by a couple of StridingEdge fans from Leicester – it’s always nice to stop for a chat with website viewers.

Walla Crag Route Map.

Casper waits for us at Castlerigg Farm.

Icy Brockle Beck.

Fun and frolics in the snow.

Casper and Dougal are amazed - it's the sun! This was certainly the calm before the storm and by the time we reached the top of the wall in this photo, the wind became really strong making walking quite difficult at times, especially in the knee depth drifts.

Looking back to Blencathra.

Wind blown snow at the kissing gate makes a wintry scene. It certainly stung the eyes, that snow.

The view in the opposite direction towards Blencathra.

Frosted Dougal and Casper.

The view over a cold looking Keswick.

I could hardly stand up here as the wind was so strong and the snow was deep on this section. I retraced my steps to the gate to get on the other side of the wall which seemed a much safer option than trying to walk the narrow path along the wall here as there is a steep drop off to the right.

Castlerigg Fell - Bleaberry Fell to the right.

The view from Walla Crag summit, Derwent Water below is frozen. Select on the image to see a larger version.

Snowy old Dougal. He loves nothing better than foraging in the deep snow, hence the covering on his nose.

The snow dogs at the top of Walla Crag.

Spindrift from the top of Walla Crag.

Looking across to the north western fells.

The view towards Borrowdale.

Mono Blencathra from the descent.

Blencathra from Castlerigg Stone Circle. Select on the image to see a larger version.

The view from the stones.

The north western fells under a heavy sky.

Walla Crag

Walked on 21/10/2009

Start point: Surprise View (NY 268 189)

Surprise View – Ashness Bridge – Falcon Crag – Walla Crag – Cat Gill – Calfclose Bay – Barrow Bay – Ashness Bridge – Surprise View

Distance: 4.3 miles Total Ascent: 392 metres Time Taken: 2 hours

Weather: Sunny spells. 14C.

Today’s quest was to get Dougal out on the fells for a bit longer, not do a walk that was too tough and begin to get his stamina up a little. The walk to Walla Crag from Surprise View offered this plus plenty of different options depending on how we got on. I had intended going up onto High Seat but it seemed further than I remembered so I decided to drop down to Derwent Water and walk along the shore for a change.

Walla Crag route map.

Sunrise over Derwent Water from Surprise View.

Ashness Bridge.

An alternative view.

Barrow Beck and Ashness Bridge from below the road.

Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake from the climb towards Falcon Crag.

Looking back towards Borrowdale.

Autumn at Manesty Park beneath Maiden Moor, Robinson in the distance.

A zoom into Borrowdale looking at King's How and Castle Crag.

The islands of Derwent Water - St Herbert's Island, Lord's Island and Derwent Isle. Beyond Portinscale is Bassenthwaite Lake.

Walla Crag gets some sunshine ahead.

The view down Cat Gill.

Bleaberry Fell in a sunburst from the summit of Walla Crag.

Keswick and the Skiddaw massif.

It looks like the 'lake' on the top of Walla Crag is joined to Derwent Water here!

The Newlands Valley and the north western fells.

Dougal looks a bit lost on Walla Crag.

That's better - Dougal and Casper on Walla Crag. What a good lad that Doogs is.

Derwent Bay - Eel Crag and Grisedale Pike are the two highest fells in view.

Sunshine over Catbells.

The descent into autumn at Cat Gill.

There is a steep descent through the woods, not that Dougal seems bothered.

Catbells reflections from Calfclose Bay.

Looking along Derwent Water.

Roots.

Looking into Borrowdale.

Landing stage, Barrow Bay.

Skiddaw.

More reflections.

Skiddaw in the opposite direction.

Last one before the climb back up past Ashness Bridge.

High Seat

Walked on 03/05/2007

Start point: Surprise View (NY 268 189)

Surprise View – Ashness Bridge – Walla Crag – Bleaberry Fell – High Seat – High Tove – Watendlath – Surprise View

Distance: 8 miles Total Ascent: 621 metres Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Fine and sunny, not a breath of wind. 21oC.

More almost perfect conditions again today. The walk started with a few camera maladies – try as I might, I could not get my ‘best’ camera to work so I had to revert to number 2. I spent an annoying 20 minutes or so messing around with it before I admitted defeat, it would have to wait until I got home to consult the user guide. That apart, it was a lovely walk – superb conditions, no wind with only the haze coming down to spoil that a little bit. Just me and Casper again today, I don’t think Angus can handle this heat, haircut or no haircut.

Derwent Water and Skiddaw from Surprise View.

Looking across Derwent Water to Cat Bells.

Swiftly past Ashness Bridge where the crowds were gathering and up on the path which contours the lower slopes of Bleaberry Fell, here looking to Derwent Water and Skiddaw.

Looking back to Cat Bell and Maiden Moor.

Looking along the Cat Gill ravine to Derwent Water and Keswick.

Skiddaw and Keswick from Walla Crag.

The Coledale fells across Derwent Water.

Casper at the summit of Walla Crag.

Hot!

The Coledale fells from the climb to Bleaberry Fell.

Blencathra from the summit.

Even hotter on the summit of High Seat.

The view to the south from High Seat, looking towards Bow Fell, Esk Pike, the Scafells, Lingmell, Great Gable and Kirk Fell.

High Seat from Eddy Grave Stake.

Lingmell and Great Gable.

Watendlath Farm and Tarn.

Packhorse Bridge at Watendlath.

A lovely place to cool off.

The valley walk back was lovely on a day like this. If the water was a bit deeper, I would have been in myself.

Got it whilst no-one was there! Ashness Bridge.

Walla Crag

Walked on 04/04/2006

Start point: Car Park opposite Barrow Bay, Derwent Water (NY 269 203)

Barrow Bay – Ashness Bridge – Falcon Crag – Walla Crag (474) – Cat Gill – Barrow Bay

Distance: 3 miles Total Ascent: 307 metres Time Taken: 3 hours

Weather: Sunny with the odd snow flurry. 6oC.

The school holidays have begun, so the first job of the day was to get Connie some new boots and a new jacket from Keswick before testing them out with a walk up to Walla Crag via Ashness Bridge. It was not a bad day today; the wind on the top was cold and brought snow flurries, much to Connie’s amazement – she thought it was Spring!