LUOAC - Borrowdale

Borrowdale is located in amongst some of the Lake District's highest mountains - the Scafell range, Great Gable and Glaramara are popular destinations. The valley runs south from Keswick for about 10 miles, and is lined with hotels if you want to have real luxury! Not sure about walking in with muddy boots though.

The fells above Borrowdale from Esk Hause - Great Gable and Green Gable on the left

At the far end of the valley is the village of Seathwaite, officially the wettest inhabited place in Britain. Most walks onto the higher peaks start from here - the head of the valley is right below Great End, on the end of the Scafell Pike range. From Great End, it's a fairly easy walk across to Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain at 977 metres.

The Scafell range - Broad Crag, Scafell Pike and Lingmell from Great End

Mickledore and Scafell from Scafell Pike

Great End, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike and Lingmell from Sty Head Tarn

Further over, Great Gable has far-reaching views in all directions, and down into Wasdale and Ennerdale below it. Some routes back into Borrowdale pass some interesting waterfalls, namely Taylorgill Force (on Styhead Gill) and Sour Milk Gill.

Taylorgill Force waterfalls on Styhead Gill

Around the northern end of Borrowdale, high grassy ridges on both sides offer easier walks but still with grand views of the higher peaks in the surrounding area, including Skiddaw and Blencathra on the north.

For long-distance walks, the Allerdale Ramble trail leads from Seathwaite to the the northwest coast, via Keswick, Skiddaw and Cockermouth. Borrowdale also has an annual fell-running competition, a strenuous route including Glaramara, Great Gable and Dale Head.

There is a path which links Seathwaite to the Langdale valley, about 6 miles. To go from Seathwaite to Langdale by road, it would involve a round journey of nearly 40 miles! Similarly, from Seathwaite to Wasdale on paths is about 5 miles, but by road it would be a journey of over 50 miles. It is the high Scafell range which blocks access by roads, meaning once you're on the hills in this area, you'll be far away from the noise of traffic.

Wasdale and Wast Water from Great Gable

Pubs

Although the valley is lined with hotels, not all of them will be too happy about muddy-booted walkers. But most of the villages in the valley (Grange, Rosthwaite, Seatoller, Seathwaite) have pubs.

At the far end of the valley, Keswick is a large town, with a selection of pubs, cafés, tea rooms, take-aways, and gear shops.

Maps

Central Borrowdale:

OS Outdoor Leisure (scale 1:25,000) 4 : North West Lakes
OS Landranger (scale 1:50,000) 90 : Penrith & Keswick

Seathwaite & Scafells:

OS Outdoor Leisure (scale 1:25,000) 6 : South West Lakes
OS Landranger (scale 1:50,000) 96 : Barrow-In-Furness & South Lakeland