What is there to do in Borrowdale?
Borrowdale is a walking valley first and foremost. The best-known things to do are climbing Castle Crag (the only Wainwright under 1,000 feet), following the River Derwent through the Jaws of Borrowdale, visiting the Bowder Stone, driving or walking to Ashness Bridge and Surprise View, and reaching the hidden hamlet and tarn at Watendlath. There is also Millican Dalton's cave, the Lodore Falls, and the ancient Atlantic oakwoods often described as temperate rainforest. Most visitors base themselves in one of the valley hamlets — Grange, Rosthwaite, Stonethwaite or Seatoller.
What can be seen in Borrowdale?
The valley's landmarks include the Bowder Stone (a huge balanced boulder with a ladder to the top), the Jaws of Borrowdale where the crags pinch the valley in, Ashness Bridge and the Surprise View over Derwentwater, the tarn and hamlet at Watendlath, Castle Crag, Grange Bridge, and Derwentwater itself at the valley's foot. Above and around them are the oak woodlands that make up some of England's best surviving temperate rainforest.
Where is Borrowdale in the Lake District?
Borrowdale is in the north-western Lake District. It is the valley running south from the foot of Derwentwater, just outside Keswick, up to the Honister Pass, followed for its whole length by the B5289 road. This is the Borrowdale near Keswick — not the other, smaller Borrowdale near Shap in the old county of Westmorland.
What is the nearest town to Borrowdale?
The nearest town is Keswick, immediately north of the valley at the head of Derwentwater. From Keswick you reach Borrowdale by car along the B5289, or without a car on the 78 bus, which runs from Keswick into the valley.
What are the best walks around Borrowdale?
Popular walks include Castle Crag, the only Wainwright under 1,000 feet; the riverside path through the Jaws of Borrowdale; the circular walk from Rosthwaite up to Watendlath and back; low-level, valley-floor walks from Grange and Rosthwaite; and, for stronger walkers, the fells around the valley head towards Honister. Many of the best routes are circular, starting and finishing in one of the hamlets.
What are some short walks I can take from Grange in Borrowdale?
From Grange you can follow the River Derwent into the Jaws of Borrowdale, cross the double-arched Grange Bridge, and take gentle riverside and woodland paths on the valley floor. The Bowder Stone is a short walk up the valley from Grange. Several of these routes can be linked into an easy circular walk that returns along the river.
Is there a bus to Borrowdale?
Yes. The 78 bus runs from Keswick into Borrowdale, calling at Grange, Rosthwaite and Seatoller. It makes a car-free visit to the valley straightforward, which matters because parking in Borrowdale is limited. Always check the current timetable before you travel.
What is the Borrowdale Rainforest?
The Borrowdale rainforest is the name given to the valley's ancient Atlantic oakwoods, which are a fragment of temperate rainforest — a rare, damp, mossy and lichen-rich woodland habitat sustained by the valley's very high rainfall. Borrowdale holds some of the best surviving examples of this habitat in England. Commonly cited woods include Johnny Wood and Seatoller Wood on the valley floor and sides.
