Short Walks in Lakeland - walks in the North Lake District

The second guidebook of this three-part series covers walks in the north Lake District: Borrowdale, Newlands, Bassenthwaite, Thirlmere, Ullswater, Haweswater and the area north of Keswick up to Caldbeck. 57 routes of half- to full-day walks.

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Walk 44: Keldas

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Distance: 2 ¼ miles (3 ½ km)
Grade: Easy
Height Gain: 538ft (165m)
Terrain: Woodland and low fell on good paths.
Summit: Keldas - 1016ft (311m)
Map: OL5, HSW-EL
Summary: This very short walk is ideal for an evening or rain-shortened day when the clouds have cleared. The small hill of Keldas is a magical viewpoint – through a fringe of stately pines you see Ullswater and its adjacent fells, or up Grisedale to the Helvellyn range. Lanty’s Tarn is a tranquil place and the descent around the base of the hill is full of interest. Paths are generally easy underfoot.
How to get there and parking: At the main pay and display car park is Glenridding village. Information Centre with weather report and toilets.

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The Walk: cross the river at the main road bridge and turn R past the shops. The track to the left leads past a cottage where a stealthy approach may be rewarded with the sight of red squirrels. A waymarked path splits off L and makes a brief alternative before rejoining the track. Keep up the steep pitched stone path which quickly brings views over the valley. At the junction keep L towards the tarn. When halted by a gate leading into the woodland surrounding the tarn turn L through a wall gap which could be a bit boggy an follow the winding path by tall pines to the summit of Keldas.

Spend a while here for there is much to see in the extensive view. Wander down to the wall below the summit crag. The gap between the wall and the crag must have acted as a wind funnel, for just beyond stoops a giant pine, its roots firm and strong yet its trunk twisted and splintered, with its noble head forced to the ground.

Return to the tarn gate and go through to stroll along the broad tarnside path accompanied by reflections of the plantation across the water. At the dam a view of Grisedale and St Sunday Crag opens up. Continue down the main path ignoring side trods and at the wall turn sharp L. Go to a stile by a gate and then on behind the farm past a three-way marker post to a gate in a wall on the uphill side of some yew trees. Go through the gate and turn R down the wallside. Turn R at the wall corner then L at Grassthwaite Howe. The path gradually develops as you walk on down through a pasture with groves of mature trees and sounds of cascades in the Grisedale beck below. Go through a gateway with a fancy iron gatepost then meet the driveway of Patterdale Hall. Turn R to the bridge where the delights of rushing water can be seen. Over a bridge a gate leads onto the road. It may seem superfluous but instead of just turning L for 100yds to the main A592 road cross to the double gates leading into King George’s playing fields. The gatepost plaques with lion and unicorn are splendid in detail, and by entering the park and turning L a path leads past the pavilion to a children’s playground. A little gate on the left will see you back at the main road.

Turn L across the beck bridge and before crossing over the A592 notice the fancy iron gate, here a complete sibling of the pasture gatepost. Find the path in the trees and continue enjoying a lake view as you go. When the path ends cross the road where a few steps lead to a continuation path well above the traffic. This ends opposite the boat landings. Cross over the road again and go towards Ullswater a few yards before turning L to follow a gravel path through the park to the road. (A path branching off over the grass to the right leads to the toilets.) Turn R along the road for 100yds to Glenridding and the start.