Lake District: Keswick Circular via Friar's Crag & Castlerigg Stone Circle

Date: Thursday 17^th April 2014

Route: Keswick Circular via Friar’s Crag and Castlerigg Stone Circle

Distance: 7 miles

Whilst you do see a few solitary ramblers, walking in the Lake District often doesn’t really fit the “I wandered lonely as a cloud” stereotype – there are lots of (usually smiling) people walking the well-trodden and well-maintained popular paths within easy reach of the main towns and sometimes it’s definitely more fun to combine a day’s walk with good company (and end it in the pub).

Today’s walk was a relatively easy route from the Pathfinder Lake District Walks Guide, starting by Derwent Water in Keswick before heading up into woodlands and over fields to reach Castelrigg Stone Circle. As we were accompanied by the lovely Jo and Sam, we needed a walk that was interesting, gave us the opportunity to chat and was not too strenuous (more for our benefit than theirs!).

The walk starts by the water’s edge, with a great view from Friar’s Crag across Derwent Water, taking in many of the areas where we had walked in the preceding days. From the lakeshore the route crosses the Borrowdale road, turning into a steady but not too taxing climb on an easy-to-follow path through the conifers of the Great Wood and Walla Crag, before crossing the Keswick-Windermere road and a few fields to arrive at Castlerigg Stone Circle.

While the stone circle isn’t on the scale of Avebury, it wins a prize for outstanding hilltop location, with views over imposing peaks in every direction, including Skiddaw, Blencathra, Helvellyn and High Dodd. Little is known about the 3,500 year old monument, but it is a fantastic spot to spend a bit of time and you can even buy an ice-cream, if you feel so inclined!

The path continues back to the main road down a quiet lane, on down a quieter lane, alongside a campsite and back into woodland before emerging on the outskirts of Keswick and returning to the lake. A lovely walk to do with great company and a good excuse for a few celebratory beers at the end of it!