Castlerigg Stone Circle

An excellent walk up to the famous Castlerigg Stone Circle, which overlooks the beautiful Keswick countryside.

1-2 With the main door of the Information Centre behind you, bear left across Market Square to reach a Y-junction 75 yds away. Go straight ahead (passing by the George Hotel on your left) and walk up St John's Street, to pass by St John's Church on your right after 250 yds. After a further 350 yds, (just prior to a steep hill) turn right into Springs.

2-3 At the far end of this road, pass by Springs Farm on your right. After a further 90 yds, pass through a large gate, then a small gate, to enter a wood. Ascend the stony path for 300 yds, then turn 1st right onto another path, (Rakefoot Farm - Walla Crag - Castlerigg Stone Circle). Continue uphill, parallel to the beck down on your left, to (i) Pass by a transmitter mast after 200 yds, (ii) Pass by a footpath on your right after 180 yds, (iii) Turn left across a narrow footbridge after 275 yds, and (iv) Cross over a small meadow (then through a gate), link up with a lane.

3-4 Turn left, but within a maximum of 20 yds, turn right to go through a swing-gate signposted (Castlerigg Stone Circle). Walk along the left hand edge of a field for 350 yds, to cross over a stile by the side of a gate. In the next field, continue alongside the left-hand wall for a further 85 yds, then climb over a ladder-stile, to enter the adjoining field. Turn left, signposted (Footpath to Stone Circle), to aim for another ladder-stile, seen 100 yds away by the side of a large gate. Continue in the same direction and gradually descend along the edge of 2 more fields for a total of 450 yds, to eventually reach the Keswick/Windermere road.

4-5 Go straight across the main road (with care), and join onto a narrow lane. Follow this land for 0.66 mile then (just prior to a T-junction), cross over a stile on your right, to enter a field enclosing the very ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle.

5-6 Exit this National Trust property via the main entrance gate, to link up with a lane. Turn left and walk downhill for 0.5 mile, to arrive at a main road descending from your right forming an inverted Y-junction. Cross over the road and continue down the right-hand footpath, to reach the Windermere/Keswick road 75 yds distant.

7-1 Turn right, signposted (Town Centre) and within 100 yds, cross over a road bridge. Immediately on the opposite side of this bridge, turn right and descend a flight of steps, to link up with a stony track. Turn right (underneath the bridge) and follow the route of the old railway line for 0.5 mile, to eventually arrive at the Keswick Leisure Pool and Car Park.

Turn left, onto a paved footpath and proceed around to the front of the building, to reach a 3-way road junction. Turn right and walk along (Station Road) for 300 yards, then cross over the main road, to return to the Moot Hall in the centre of Keswick.

Getting there

Parking: Town centre.