Castle Crag from Seatoller Walking Route
A scenic walk to the summit of the smallest of Wainwright's fells. This route follows the terrace path above the lovely Borrowdale Valley. A short diversion takes you up to Castle Crag via a short but fairly steep zigzag path of loose slate. The route drops through the Jaws of Borrowdale down to the River Derwent below and follows the riverside path back to the hamlet of Seatoller.
- Distance - 5 miles
- Time - 3 hours
- Starting point - National Trust Car Park Seatoller (NT members free)
- By public transport - Bus 78 from Keswick to Seatoller, click here for timetable
- Feedback - Contact Keswick Tourism Association by email to info@keswick.org
- Notes - The slate path up Castle Crag can be slippery when wet.There is another rocky scrambly section just before the end of the route.
1.Leave the car park by the main entrance and turn right up the road through Seatoller village. Just after the houses, opposite a turning area turn right through a gate. Follow the path to a second gate & continue upwards. The path curves to go through a further 2 gates and up a stony track. Pass a steeper track coming up from Seatoller on your left. Ahead there is a choice of 3 paths. Take the middle one up to a small gate in the corner of the wall. Through the gate turn right and follow the path adjacent to a wall.
2. Soon Castle Crag comes into view ahead. Keep forward over a bridge and through a gate. Keep to the same track with Castle Crag in your sights ahead. As you reach a crossroads of paths keep forward to a gate and over a double bridge and then cross the stones over another stream. As you come to a T-junction turn right. Derwentwater soon comes into view ahead.
3. Just as the path starts to drop take a path on your right hand side up Castle Crag. Follow the clear path upwards, after some time going over a stile and a ladder stile . Follow the zig-zag path up the slate and up to the summit where you can enjoy views over Borrowdale and Derwentwater.
4.To leave the summit retrace your steps but instead of going back over the ladder stile follow the path down to the right and then turning right to re-join the path you left earlier. Follow the stony path downhill. As you meet a junction of 3 paths take the right one over a small wooden bridge. At the river turn right signposted Rosthwaite. Through the gate a bench awaits with views over the river or you can drop down the path to a lovely stopping place on the river bank. To continue the path heads up along the side of a wall. Turn left through a gap in the wall. Take the next path to the left signposted Rosthwaite. Continue along this path presently coming a walk along the riverside.
5. Go through a gate and continue along the riverside path. Go over a wooden bridge, keeping to the right of the river. Continue along the riverside path signposted Longthwaite. Turn right onto a metalled road to pass in front of Borrowdale Youth Hostel. The path becomes rocky and in places there are metal chains to help you cross the boulders. Shortly past the base of the cliff you are back on a stony path.
6. The path continues through a wall and comes to a gate. Turn left and continue to another gate on the left taking you back to Seatoller car park.
Download pdf - Castle Crag from Seatoller walking route
Have you found this walking route useful and would like to make a donation? All our walks are provided free of charge to download but you might consider donating a small one-off amount to help with the running costs and upgrades to our website. This website is run by Keswick Tourism Association, a not for profit trade organisation, which is funded almost totally by its members.
