Start point: Keswick (NY 266 233)
Keswick – Springs Road – Springs Wood – Rakefoot – Walla Crag – Derwent Water – Keswick
Distance: 9.4km Total Ascent: 300 metres Time Taken: 2 hours 15 minutes Start Time: 10:55
Weather: Sunny spells, windy on the top. 9°C
I was in the north Lakes this morning so took the opportunity to have a walk up to Walla Crag as the weather was surprisingly good when I got to Keswick. I think the weather was better here than anywhere else in the Lakes – south Lakes was overcast and dull and the whole of the central Lakes was wet. Walla Crag offers superb views over Derwent Water and well worth a visit.
Walla Crag route Map
First view of Derwent Water from the radio mast.
Blencathra from the climb to Walla Crag. It was a lovely morning walking up here, there was hardly a soul around and there was the constant accompaniment of Skylark song.
Dodd and Keswick.
Derwent Water and the north-western fells.
The view to Bassenthwaite Lake from the summit of Walla Crag. Amazingly I was on my own up here, a rarity for this popular place.
Skiddaw - under the cloud cap somewhere.
There was constant drama in Borrowdale with rain and cloud constantly coming in...but never making it fully to Derwent Water. It was really windy on this section of descent and I was glad to get to the shelter of the Cat Gill ravine.
The descent was steeply through the sweet smelling Gorse adjacent to Cat Gill. Some good news arrived (pertinent to StridingEdeg.net) when I was here. More revelations anon...
Across the road to Derwent Water and the water level seems quite low after a prolonged dry spell. The Centenary Stones are far from the waters edge.
Centenary Stones or Millennium Stones?
The Jaws of Borrowdale.
It was lovely in the sunshine looking down the lake.
Blue skies above Walla Crag now.
Catcalls and the beach.
Friar's Crag.
Someone is enjoying the fabulous view from the seat at Friar's Crag
Just lovely.
New jetties are going in down at the landing.