Would you like to explore Keswick, Borrowdale and Buttermere? This guidebook covers 15 of the best short walks in the area (between 4.5 and 10km), including Buttermere, Derwentwater, Cat Bells, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Rannerdale Knotts, Castle Crag, Ashness Bridge and Skiddaw.

Why choose this guidebook?

• Walks under three hours, plus one challenge route
• Easy to follow with clear route descriptions
• Facilities, parking and highlights for every route
• No specialist gear needed, walk all year round
• Ordnance Survey mapping

Cicerone’s Short Walks guidebooks contain everything you need to get outdoors and discover the best of an area. The routes are perfect if you’re new to walking or looking for something you can enjoy with the whole family. Let the adventures begin!

Map key
Overview map
Using this guide
Route summary table
Introduction
What to expect
Where to stay
Travel
The walks
1. Rannerdale Knotts
2. Buttermere circuit
3. Borrowdale, Seathwaite and Seatoller
4. Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite
5. Castle Crag
6. Watendlath and Ashness Bridge
7. Derwentwater shore
8. Cat Bells
9. Friar’s Crag and Castlehead
10. Castlerigg Stone Circle
11. Latrigg and Keswick Railway Path
12. Barrow
13. Seat How and the Whinlatter forests
14. Dodd
15. Skiddaw

Useful information

Seasons

These walks can be enjoyed any time of year, and each season brings its own delights. Borrowdale is particularly lovely in spring and autumn. Winter can bring snow and ice.

Centres

Keswick, Rosthwaite, Braithwaite and Buttermere

Difficulty

The valley and lake routes are suitable for nearly all abilities; however, a moderate degree of fitness as well as waterproofs and more robust footwear are recommended for higher walks. Basic navigation skills are valuable for the higher routes and in poor weather. In particular, the inexperienced should avoid Skiddaw in poor weather.

Must See

Borrowdale’s ancient woods; the lakes of Derwentwater, Crummock Water and Buttermere; Castlerigg Stone Circle; traditional Lakeland pubs; cosy cafes; isolated hamlets; fell-top viewpoints, including Cat Bells and Castle Crag; picturesque bridges, including Ashness Bridge; low ridges; lake cruises; birds of prey and other wildlife; summit of Skiddaw, England’s fourth highest mountain

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

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