This autumnal guided activity will take place from Borrowdale in the heart of the Lake District.
My personal favourite valley to visit at this time of year, there is a true display of nature on show with native deciduous woodland showing off all the colours of the seasonal change as well as various species of fungi littering the floor of wooded areas and meadows.
Whether it's a fine, crisp and frosty morning or there is to be mist winding around the hills and a bit of drizzle creating a moody scene, this mixed terrain walk will captivate the imagination and is sure to provide a real snapshot of autumn in the Lake District.
Please read on below to find out more about the route, which is 17km, or just under 11 miles, with 700m ascent, and is expected to take around 7 to 8 hours to complete.
_edited.png){kind=small}
The route I have designed will head out from the quaint village of Grange. There are car parks nearby, Grange is also easily available by various bus services from Keswick.
We will be heading up Watendlath Beck to take in the higher reaches of Lodore Falls, a fantastic cascade that is only accentuated by rainfall and provides an exciting start to the outing. From here, the trail climbs up the hillside beneath the vast tree canopy that gives a wonderful palette of colour. A slight detour will lead us to "Surprise View", an elevated position showing Borrowdale and Derwentwater.
Following the Watendlath Beck upstream leads to the hidden hamlet of Watendlath, perched high in the hills above Borrowdale with a superb glacial tarn taking centre stage. Here, we will take a short break at a 18th Century Tea Room known as "Caffle House".
The next stage of the walk will lead us southwards along a moorland bridleway that cuts through a pleasant patchwork of of brightly coloured grasses and heather. We will eventually find ourselves dropping down the hill, across Stonethwaite Beck and into the lovely village of Rosthwaite, where the terrain flattens out somewhat.
There are public toilet facilities at Rosthwaite.
As we leave the village behind and cross the River Derwent, we will cross a network of fields and begin to climb up the west side of the valley. The next objective will soon be in view - Castle Crag.
Castle Crag is actually the 214th Wainwright summit, as in the lowest altitude at just 290m above sea level. However, there is a very steep ascent up from Borrowdale followed by a loose, scree ridden slope on both the ascent and descent. So it's no walk in the park. The views of the length and breadth of Borrowdale from the top are very rewarding, Castle Crag is a superb vantage point and worth the exertion to climb.
A beautiful trail through the serene broadleaf woodland beside the River Derwent will take us for really interesting look at the slate quarries where local hermit Millican Dalton lived from the 1920's for almost fifty years!
This is a fascinating story of an intrepid and inspirational gentleman who was keen to share his love of the outdoors with others, even though he chose a solitary habitation in a disused working quarry.
Bringing our ramble to an end, we will head back down to the valley level path and make our way northwards through a beautiful stretch of ancient woodland beside the River Derwent back to the start and finish point of Grange.
Images taken from this route in Autumn
A rough and ready video showing what to expect
Important details about this specific activity.
The entire route accrues 17km, or 11 miles, with around 700m ascent, and is expected to take around 7 to 8 hours. This activity is usually quite a social outing with lots of discussion, time to take in the scenery and enjoy a lunch break at Caffle House Tea Room at Watendlath - expect a gentle to moderate pace throughout.
It is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
There are hillside slopes, exposed tree roots, loose slate and uneven terrain. If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
Waterproof trail shoes or more sturdy boots are suitable for this activity.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
As mentioned, it is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
It should be mentioned that weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
Meeting point and transport information.
The activity meeting point is Grange Methodist Church, in Grange (CA12 5UQ), where there is limited parking available.
Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
There is a reliable bus service from Keswick and other neighbouring villages. Lots of various accommodation is available in the vicinity of Grange, Rosthwaite and Keswick, including camping, hostels, B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Please ask me if you need advice on where to stay or transport links.
What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities that are at a moderate or even gentle pace.
I am qualified, insured and experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.