The Bowder Stone and Watendlath

About

Tucked high amongst the fells in a secluded and hidden valley on the eastern side of Borrowdale is the picture perfect hamlet of Watendlath. It sits nestling in a glacier-carved hollow beside the mirrored waters of a tarn and surrounded by trees, crags, and network of ancient dry-stone enclosed fields. It is a delight to visit and makes an ideal target for an exploratory walk through Borrowdale. From Keswick the best way to access the walk is to take advantage of the regular water bus service on Derwentwater. This gives a prompt approach to the two main villages in the valley, Grange and Rosthwaite, and also allows you to take in the impressive 2000 ton erratic boulder, the Bowder Stone. Most of the walking is along valley-bottom paths but there is a bit of a climb over a fell pass from Rosthwaite to Watendlath, and there is also a short steep descent at High Lodore. The water bus service can be caught in either a clockwise and anti-clockwise circuit.