Lake District: Borrowdale Circular

Date: Tuesday 15^th April 2014

Route: Borrowdale Circular

Distance: 7 miles

After a punishing ascent of Skiddaw the day before, the circular walk around Borrowdale from the Pathfinder Guide to Lake District Walks seemed like a good option – not only because it goes through possibly “the loveliest valley in England”, but also because it contains the very welcome introductory sentence, “this is a low-level walk throughout.”

I have to confess that our previous experience with this walk was not a good one – when we tried it in May 2009 we got soaked to the skin by the unrelenting rain and ended up walking along the top of a (very wet) dry-stone wall and finally the road to escape the rising waters of the overflowing river Derwent.

Luckily, this time around we had the benefit of a perfect day – lots of sunshine, clear blue skies and all of those stereotypically lovely Lake District moments – spectacular scenery, sunlight reflecting off the water, lambs leaping around on the hillsides and Wordworthian daffodils swaying in the breeze.

The walk begins and ends at the village of Seatoller, at the base of the Honister Pass, and quickly leaves the village behind to head over the hillside and on towards the imposing Castle Crag, looking down on the village of Rosthwaite before joining the banks of the River Derwent. The walking is easy, the scenery is spectacular and the temptation to take photographs is constant.

Once past a campsite it is an easy walk to the village of Grange, where unhappy memories of sitting dripping wet and miserable a few years are replaced by the warm and fuzzy feeling that only a big pot of tea and home-made gingerbread can dispel.

The route back to Seatoller is less taxing and mainly follows the river, first through woodland and then across fields, with plenty more “wow” moments in terms of views.  A lovely, straightforward walk through beautiful Lakeland countryside.