Borrowdale, Derwentwater and Keswick
Sketch map will appear here
Everybody has their own favourite corner of the Lake District.
Borrowdale
is mine.
The River Derwent is formed by the streams that run northwards off
the
Scafell and Gable massifs, and on its journey through the fells it
forms
two lakes, Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite. The town of Keswick, the
undisputed
capital of the northern half of the Lake District, lies at the foot of
Derwentwater, but curiously separated from it by a low dome of
pastureland
known as Crow Park. Thus, Derwentwater is virtually unsullied by
development
around its shore.
Derwentwater is of modest size, around 7 square km in area; its
setting,
though, is magnificent. To the immediate west lays the Catbells -
Maiden
Moor - High Spy ridge, though the northern end of the lake is also
prominently
overlooked by a real feast of peaks from Hindscarth and High Stile,
round
through Causey Pike, Eel Crag, to Grizedale Pike and Barf and most of
their
neighbours. To the east is the ridge of the Central Fells and their
complex
and beautifully wooded western outliers including Walla Crag, Falcon
Crag,
Bleaberry Fell, Holme Fell and Great Crag. Keswick and lower Borrowdale
are overshadowed by the great mass of Skiddaw to the north, together
with
its various outliers such as Latrigg and Dodd. And to the south, the
numerous
valleys that radiate from upper Borrowdale encompass and enable views
of
Great End, Rosthwaite Fell, Seathwaite Fell, Glaramara and Scafell
Pike.
A major feature of Derwentwater is its wooded flanks, which give
such
delightful walking, and on routes numerous enough to occupy a score of
holidays. There is a rich variety of walks even very close to Keswick;
Friar's Crag, just south of the boat landings, is a firm favourite with
holidaymakers while nearby are Calf Close Bay, the modest height of
Castlehead
and the more demanding but thoroughly rewarding Great Wood and Walla
Crag.
Further south, Falcon Crag, Surprise View, Strutta Wood and Lodore Wood
offer a lifetime of delights. We must not forget Brandlehow and Manesty
Park on the opposite side of Derwentwater.
The village of Grange sits at the head of the lake, south of which
the
Derwent squeezes through a narrow gap known as the Jaws of Borrowdale.
The minor yet thoroughly enjoyable hillock of Castle Crag sits in the
gap,
the only fell of less than 1000ft altitude to be rewarded by a chapter
in Wainwright's guides. Southwards again, Borrowdale springs a
surprise;
it opens out into pasture country dotted with picturebook hamlets such
as Rosthwaite, Stonethwaite and Seatoller, the only Lakeland valley to
exhibit this particular topography. The wooded flank recipe is repeated
here, and in spades; King's How and Great Crag to the east, How Woods
and
Johnny Wood to the west, and the valleys that radiate into the high
fells;
Stonethwaite, Seathwaite and Little Gatescarthdale, to name but three.
Finally, the boundaries of this page encompass the village of
Portinscale,
just off Derwentwater's northwestern corner, and Derwent's flood plain
northwest of Keswick in the area known as Underskiddaw. It may include
just one body of water and only one minor fell, yet this page
encompasses
an area of scenic value that I feel is supreme even by the high
standards
of Lakeland. Borrowdale is the best.
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Last updated 4th May 2003
