Borrowdale
Painted by both Turner and Constable, and described by Alfred Wainwright as a 'pageant of beauty from end to end' Borrowdale is one of the most stunningly beautiful of all the Lakeland valleys, with thickly wooded fells topped by dramatic towering crags. It follows the course of the River Derwent before it joins the bleak Honister Pass. The valley's manifold attractions render it a highly popular destination with tourists.
Castle Crag, Borrowdale
Borrowdale derives its name from the Norse word borgardalr, which translates as the valley of the fort. The remains of the fort can still be seen on the rocky outcrop of Castle Crag, its value as a strategic position is easy to appreciate. It was probably used by the ancient British tribe, the Brigantes, against the Roman invaders. Most of Borrowdale's place names are suggestive of the area's Norse heritage.
The highly attractive village of Grange-in-Borrowdale stands in a magnificent landscape at the foot of the dale backed by the soaring splendour of craggy peaks. Its graceful double arched pack-horse bridge, picturesquely spanning the rock strewn River Derwent, dates from 1675.
The Bowder Stone
About three quarters of a mile south from Grange-in -Borrowdale stands the famous Bowder Stone, a huge boulder of volcanic rock which perches precariously on its base, it is the largest single boulder in the Lake District. It measures thirty six feet high and weighs around 1,970 tons.
Deposited in its present position by by the action of glaciers, it can be climbed via a ladder on both sides.
Around a mile from the north side of Grange are the spectacularly beautiful Lodore Falls, which are superb after heavy rain. They can be via a path near the Lodore Swiss Hotel.
The ancient hamlet of Rosthwaite is popular with walkers, the village has a number of hotels and also offers bed and breakfast accommodation and a youth hostel. Its name derives from the Norse for 'clearing with the heap of stones'.
Farms and cottages at Rosthwaite
Situated a little further down the valley, the picturesque village of Stonethwaite consists of a cluster of whitewashed cottages which huddle around a village inn. The inn provides meals and has a cosy bar for walkers.
The picturesque village of Seatoller has a National Park Information Centre covering the area, which is housed within a converted barn.
Borrowdale
Johnny Wood, owned by the National Trust, is situated on the road from Rosthwaite to Seatoller and is a superb example of an oak woodland with a two and a half mile nature trail. It is rich in its variety of mosses and interesting flora. There arew six woods in Borrowdale that have been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, they include Castle Head Wood, the Ings, Great Wood, Troutdale Woods, Johnny Woods and Seatoller Woods.
The small isolated hamlet of Seathwaite
The small farming hamlet of Seathwaite, to the south, favoured for its proximity to Great Gable and Scafell, is a popular base for walkers. It is reached at the end of a narrow twisting lane.
Sty Head. Click to enlarge
Seathwaite is the wettest inhabited spot in England with an average of 120 inches of rain recorded in a year. A footpath from the village takes the visitor on the short walk to the old packhorse bridge at Stockley, from which paths lead to Scafell Pike and Great Gable.