Castlehead

For the effort involved in reaching the top of Castlehead the rewards are quite spectacular: an impressive view down the length of Derwentwater towards the tallest mountains in England. Two benches and a scenic view finder plaque on top of this miniature summit assist the visitor there to enjoy these sights in better comfort and with better awareness.

1. From the entrance of the Moot Hall leave the Market Square on the road running between the bread shop and the Keswick Lodge Hotel. Continue on past the George Hotel in to St John's Street and on past the cinema and St John's Church. Just before the road begins pulling sharply uphill leading off to the right is a road called Springs Road. (0.5 mile)2. Two hundred yards along Springs Road leading off to the right is a signposted, enclosed, surfaced pathway leading towards a wooded hillock - Castlehead. After passing through a kissing gate the path enters the wood surrounding Castlehead and branches in two. Follow the right hand branch. This path also branches in two at a point where it reaches the corner post of a field that projects in to the wood. Follow the left hand branch to the top of Castle head. (0.25 mile)3. From the summit retrace your steps. On your descent cut across to a very obvious wooden bench from which the town of Keswick can be viewed. A yard or two beyond the bench is a path which leads down to the Borrowdale road. Where it branches in two take the right hand option. On reaching the road cross straight over on to a footpath following the other side of the road. (Watch out for traffic!) (0.125 mile)4. Follow the footpath downhill for about fifty yards to where a flight of steps leads off to the right giving access to an enclosed pathway leading to Cockshot wood. On entering the copse turn left. This path follows the boundary of the wood and eventually reaches a surfaced roadway following the shoreline of the lake. (0.5 mile)5. Here turn right. On reaching the new theatre it becomes possible to use a walkway on the left hand side of the road rather than the road itself. This walkway after a few hundred yards veers away from the road and passes beneath it by way of a subway. This brings you to a short bricked roadway. On reaching the top of this road turn left to return to the centre of Keswick (0.5 mile)

Getting there

Parking: Belle Close, Otley Road, Central or Lakeside Car Parks.