Friar's Crag & Calf Close Bay

There are few residents of Keswick who will not have sauntered around this course - some do it with such regularity one could almost set one's clock by them. Even on the bleakest days it provides residents with a reminder of what a wonderful location they live in. It is also marked with a number of interesting memorials: two are remarked upon in the directional notes, others are left for the walker's own observation.

1. From the Moot Hall walk in to Lake Road - the road which runs between the Old Keswickian chip shop and Barclays Bank. (There is no sign on this road until fifty yards along it.) You soon come to George Fisher's outdoor shop. Here turn right on to a brick surfaced roadway which is actually the continuation of Lake Road. From the end of this roadway follow a distinctive pedestrian sign to our left bearing the words "Subway to the Lake". Leading out of the subway is a broad surfaced walkway which leads to the northern end of Derwentwater. (0.5 mile)

2. On reaching the lake continue along the road which follows the shoreline. The road soon terminates but leading from this termination is a broad pathway which continues to follow the lake shore. Within 100 yards this path branches in two. Bear right. The path leads to a popular viewpoint called Friar's Crag on which a bench is situated. (0.4mile)

3. Retrace your steps for 25 yards, where a small path branches off to the right through a young copse of conifers. (In the midst of these trees looking to your left you should see a memorial to John Ruskin.) The path soon joins a broader path. Here turn right. Passing through a small gate the path leads round the edge of the lake and then enters a small wood by way of another gate. Emerging from the wood the path joins an access road leading to Stable Hills Cottage. (0.5 mile)

4. Turn right to follow this access road. Just before reaching Stable Hills Cottage a National Trust sign indicates a footpath leading off to the left following the lake shore. The path soon comes to a small copse which occupies a short headland. Emerging from this copse on the ground to the right of the path is located a memorial plaque and in line with it in the lake's margin is an unusual sculpture. From the plaque the path continues to follow the water's edge around Calf Close Bay. About three hundred yards from the plaque the path comes to a mortared cairn of stones which contains a National Trust collection box. (0.75mile)

5. At this point the path branches in two. Follow the left hand branch which curves back towards Keswick paralleling the Borrowdale Road - B5289 - the path passes two large public notices warning against riding a horse on this path. At the second of these signs it is necessary to cross the road to join a pathway on the other side. Keep to this pathway which leads past St John's churchyard and then directly back to the centre of Keswick. (1.5 miles)

Getting there

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