Watendlath, Borrowdale — the Hidden Hamlet, Tarn & Walks

Q: How do you pronounce Watendlath?

It's most commonly said 'wah-TEND-lath', with the stress on the middle syllable — that's the version you'll hear around Borrowdale.

Q: How long is the Rosthwaite to Watendlath walk?

The direct crossing over the fell shoulder between Rosthwaite and Watendlath is roughly 1.8 miles (about an hour) each way as an out-and-back, climbing to around 325 m on Puddingstone Bank. Many walkers build it into a longer round instead, such as the popular six-mile Dock Tarn and Great Crag circular from Rosthwaite.

Q: Is there a cafe at Watendlath?

Yes. The Caffle House Tearooms at the hamlet serves tea, coffee and homemade cakes to walkers. Like most small Lakeland tearooms it opens mainly in summer and can change its hours, so don't rely on it being open and carry your own food and drink, especially out of season.

The end of the road

A hidden hamlet and tarn above Borrowdale

Watendlath is a tiny hamlet and small tarn hidden in a hanging valley high above Borrowdale. You reach it by the same single-track fell road that climbs past Ashness Bridge and Surprise View — and here that road simply ends. The whole place, hamlet and tarn alike, is looked after by the National Trust. There's no through-route, no crowds spilling off a main road, just a cluster of old farm buildings, the tarn, and a little stone packhorse bridge over the beck. It is one of the quietest, most photographed corners of the Lakes, and the start (or turn-around) of some lovely walks.

Most people come for one of three things: the short, classic Watendlath walk over the fell from Rosthwaite; the drive up the fell road for the packhorse bridge and the tarn; or simply the peace of a place the tarmac can't take you past. Whichever you're after, it pays to arrive early on a fine day — the road is narrow and the parking is limited.

Watendlath Tarn in its hanging valley above Borrowdale, Lake District — Watendlath Tarn, cupped in its hanging valley at the road's end.

Getting there by car

The drive up to Watendlath

The road to Watendlath is the narrow fell lane that branches off the Borrowdale valley road near Ashness Bridge, climbs past Surprise View, and carries on into the hanging valley to finish at the hamlet. It's a lovely drive — but it is genuinely single-track for much of its length, with passing places rather than two lanes.

Drive slowly, use the passing places, and be ready to reverse for oncoming cars — on a fine summer day it can get busy, and because Watendlath is a dead end, everyone who drives up has to come back down the same way. If you'd rather skip the road altogether, it's a rewarding place to reach on foot from Ashness Bridge or from Rosthwaite instead.

The single-track fell road climbing towards Watendlath above Borrowdale, Lake District — The single-track road to Watendlath — narrow, with passing places.

Walks — the heart of Watendlath

Three ways to walk to Watendlath

The classic short crossing from Rosthwaite, a gentler approach from Ashness Bridge, and a longer fell route over from Thirlmere. The Rosthwaite walk is the famous one and the reason many people put Watendlath on the map at all.

The classic

Rosthwaite → Watendlath — the classic walk

The best-known Watendlath walk is the old packhorse crossing between Rosthwaite, in the main Borrowdale valley, and Watendlath in its hidden side valley. It climbs gently out of Rosthwaite, crosses the fell shoulder, and drops to the hamlet and its tarn — many walkers return the same way for an out-and-back, or loop it into a longer round. Rosthwaite sits on the Borrowdale valley floor, so it's an easy place to start from.

Start: Rosthwaite (Borrowdale)
Distance: ~1.8 mi each way
Time: ~1 hour each way
Type: Out-and-back or loop over the fell

Roughly 1.8 miles and about an hour each way over the fell, climbing to around 325 m on Puddingstone Bank — take OS Explorer OL4. The route line is drawn on the map below.

The old packhorse path over the fell between Rosthwaite and Watendlath, Borrowdale, Lake District — The path over the fell from Rosthwaite to Watendlath.

Cross-link

Ashness Bridge → Watendlath

You can also walk in from Ashness Bridge, following the beck up the side valley to the hamlet — a fine way to reach Watendlath without driving the whole single-track road. Ashness Bridge and Surprise View have their own page, with the parking and viewpoints along that fell road.

Ashness Bridge & Surprise View

Longer fell route

The Thirlmere approach

A longer, quieter option crosses the fells to Watendlath from the Thirlmere side to the east. It's a proper hill walk rather than a short stroll — one to plan from the map (OS Explorer OL4) rather than follow blind, and best saved for a clear day.

Thirlmere doesn't yet have its own page here — we'll link it once it's live.

These are open fell paths that cross exposed ground. Conditions change fast up here — check the Lake District Weatherline forecast, take a map, and don't rely on phone signal in the valley.

More routes in the Lake District walks guide, and nearby water in the waterfalls guide.

Map

Rosthwaite to Watendlath route map

Route line and map © OpenStreetMap contributors — the Rosthwaite → Watendlath bridleway over Puddingstone Bank, traced along the public right of way. Tap a pin for its guide.

Printable route card (PDF)

The hamlet

The bridge, the tarn & the farm

The heart of Watendlath is its little packhorse bridge — a single arch of stone over Watendlath Beck, and one of the most photographed spots in Borrowdale. Beyond it sits the small tarn, ringed by fell, and a handful of old farm buildings that make up the hamlet itself. It is tiny, and that's the whole appeal.

There is a working farm at the hamlet — Fold Head Farm — and the seasonal Caffle House Tearooms, which serves walkers who've made the crossing with tea, coffee and homemade cakes. Like most small Lakeland tearooms it opens mainly in summer and can change its hours, so don't count on it out of season.

Watendlath has a genuine literary claim, too: Fold Head Farm was the home Hugh Walpole used for Judith Paris in his Herries Chronicles — a lovely bit of colour for a place this small and remote.

The old farm buildings of Watendlath hamlet beside the tarn, Borrowdale, Lake District — The hamlet — a handful of old farm buildings at the road's end.

Getting there & parking

Watendlath parking

Road-end National Trust car park

Parking at Watendlath is the National Trust car park at the very end of the road, beside the hamlet. It's small, and because the fell road is single-track, it fills quickly on fine days — arrive early or have a plan B. It's pay-and-display, roughly £1–£7.50 depending how long you stay (free for NT members) — bring coins as well as a card, as the signal up here is patchy.

Car park: National Trust · road-end
Cost: £1–£7.50 · NT members free
Access road: Single-track · passing places

No car? Walk in instead

You don't have to drive the fell road at all. The nicest way to arrive is on foot — over the old packhorse route from Rosthwaite in the main Borrowdale valley, or up the side valley from Ashness Bridge. Both leave the narrow road to the cars and give you the hamlet at walking pace.

Borrowdale & Rosthwaite Ashness Bridge & Surprise View

Keep exploring

Nearby & more walks

Borrowdale

The valley below, with Rosthwaite, Grange and the Jaws of Borrowdale.

Surprise View & Ashness Bridge

The viewpoints on the same fell road up to Watendlath.

Keswick

The nearest town — cafés, launches and Derwentwater a short drive away.

Lake District walks

Browse more routes across the National Park by area and difficulty.

Common questions

Watendlath, answered

How do you pronounce Watendlath?

It's most commonly said "wah-TEND-lath", with the stress on the middle syllable — that's the version you'll hear around Borrowdale.

Can you drive to Watendlath?

Yes. A single-track road branches off the Borrowdale valley near Ashness Bridge and Surprise View and climbs into the side valley, ending at Watendlath, where there is a National Trust car park. The road is narrow with passing places, so drive slowly, be ready to reverse, and expect it to be busy on fine summer days.

How long is the Rosthwaite to Watendlath walk?

It's a crossing over the fell shoulder — roughly 1.8 miles (about an hour) each way as an out-and-back, climbing to around 325 m on Puddingstone Bank. Many people build it into a longer round instead, such as the popular ~6-mile Dock Tarn and Great Crag circular from Rosthwaite. Take OS Explorer OL4.

Is there a café at Watendlath?

Yes — the Caffle House Tearooms at the hamlet serves tea, coffee and homemade cakes to walkers. Like most small Lakeland tearooms it opens mainly in summer and can change its hours, so don't rely on it being open — carry your own food and drink, especially out of season.