This September's VBR Weekend Away wil be based at HF Holidays Ltd, Derwent Bank, a pleasant 1½ mile walk from Keswick via Portinscale. Three walks have been recced for Saturday, Sunday and Monday with options to shorten or lengthen them.
Saturday - Derwent Bank to Rosthwaite
From the HF house we will take a lowland route on pleasant tracks to the end of the lake (3 miles) where there is an opportunity for some to cross the River Derwent at the head of the lake to reach the Lodore Hotel and Falls and then catch the half-hourly bus service back to Keswick Bus Station.
An alternative is to continue to Grange and pick up a bus there (4½ miles).
We then follow the Derwent up Borrowdale through woods, round Castle Crag to Rosthwaite and the famous Flock Inn Tea Room (7 miles), returning to Keswick by bus.
Sunday - Railway Trail
Pooley Bridge and Ullswater
From the new bridge on the edge of Pooley Bridge, we walk through the village and climb on excellent tracks to the old Roman Road of High Street and The Cockpit Stone Circle with panoramic views up the lake. Dropping down towards Howtown we turn off to follow the banks of Ullswater back to Pooley Bridge.
Notes: there is a nearby, alternative 4-mile walk over Gowbarrow Fell from the National Trust's car park at Aira Falls on the west shore of Ullswater; or take a stroll to see the waterfalls there; diverting from the A66 to either Aira Falls or Pooley Bridge adds only an extra 5 miles to the return journey.
An alternative is to continue to Grange and pick up a bus there (4½ miles).
We then follow the Derwent up Borrowdale through woods, round Castle Crag to Rosthwaite and the famous Flock Inn Tea Room (7 miles), returning to Keswick by bus.
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| Launch on Derwent Water - hourly trips in both directions round the lake with seven landing sites |
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| Crossing over to the Lodore Hotel and Falls on boardwalks |
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| An alternative route in the event that the boardwalks are flooded is to continue to Grange and pick up a bus there (4½ miles). |
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| Lunch stop near the River Derwent |
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| Path round the base of Castle Crag |
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| Recently improved path to Rosthwaite beside the river |
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| The more adventurous can climb over to Watendlath from Rosthwaite returning to the lakeside via Ashness Bridge to pick up a launch or bus to Keswick (10½ miles). This photo was taken in 2006 after a walk that also took in Cat Bells and the lakeside path back to Keswick (19 miles!) |
From the Railway Station we will take the recently reopened Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail in the beautiful valley of the River Greta with its impressive bridges and tunnels, returning around the flanks of Latrigg with its view up the Derwent Valley and mountains beyond.
Two miles after leaving the station, some may wish to return along the trail or climb up immediately to Latrigg (5.8 miles).
Two miles after leaving the station, some may wish to return along the trail or climb up immediately to Latrigg (5.8 miles).
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| The start at Keswick Railway Station (see map below). The Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail follows an old train track that stretched from Cockermouth to Penrith. The line was officially opened in 1865 and was fully closed by 1973 and parts of it eventually made into a footpath between Keswick and Threlkeld |
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| Storm Desmond On 6th December 2015 180 mm of rain fell in Keswick and two of the original Victorian railway bridges that cross the River Greta were washed away and the route to Threlkeld was completely cut off. After 5 years and £7.9m it has now been reopened for walkers and cyclists |
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| View up the Greta on the outskirts of Keswick |
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| The renovation of the trail included the reopening of the Bobbin Mill tunnel under the A66 so that for the first time in almost 50 years the trail to Threlkeld can now be walked and cycled after tons of rubble were removed from the structure |
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| Distant view of Derwent Water, Keswick and Cat Bells from the route down from Latrigg |
Pooley Bridge and Ullswater
From the new bridge on the edge of Pooley Bridge, we walk through the village and climb on excellent tracks to the old Roman Road of High Street and The Cockpit Stone Circle with panoramic views up the lake. Dropping down towards Howtown we turn off to follow the banks of Ullswater back to Pooley Bridge.
Notes: there is a nearby, alternative 4-mile walk over Gowbarrow Fell from the National Trust's car park at Aira Falls on the west shore of Ullswater; or take a stroll to see the waterfalls there; diverting from the A66 to either Aira Falls or Pooley Bridge adds only an extra 5 miles to the return journey.
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| The new, stainless steel bridge which replaced the 18th Century stone structure destroyed during Storm Desmond in December 2015 |
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| Climb up to High Street |
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| Looking back at Pooley Bridge |
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| Cockpit Stone Circle (part of) |
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| Descent towards Howtown with views up Ullswater. The lake was described by Alfred Wainwright as "that loveliest of lakes, curving gracefully into the far distance" |
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| Note path to Portinscale, Long Stay Car Park and Railway Station |
Zoom and pan to see more detail. Click on the recced routes (red) or possible alternatives (blue)
