Friar’s Crag

The stunning views looking out over Derwentwater towards Cat Bells and the impressive Jaws of Borrowdale backdrop is accessible to all.

This relatively level 2.5km route (1.25km out and back, via the same route or the ‘for many’ alternative return route) takes you into some fabulous locations with stunning lake and mountain views

Follow the road from the theatre down to Derwentwater foreshore. The wooded islands and the Jaws of Borrowdale will soon come into view. When the tarmac ends, continue along a good stone track, keeping right, parallel to the lake shore.

You will see a finger post at a junction which points right to Friar’s Crag and left to Strandshag Bay, keep right.

Follow the path down to the dramatic viewpoint out over Derwent Water with care, as there is a steep slope and it is narrow in places.  Warning: this section has been damaged and is currently unsafe for those on wheels. The National Trust are working to repair this shortly.

Return to the finger post indicating the direction of Strandshag Bay and turn right here. Directly ahead there is a gate into a field with a good stone surfaced path, (the path to the right goes down to the foreshore, this is suitable “for some”). The upper (“for all”) path continues across the field before dropping to join the lower path near the lake shore.

A bridge takes you into a small wood, where there are extensive sections of boardwalk through the terrain. On reaching a three-way fork in the path with a three-way fingerpost at the right fork take whichever fork suits best but turn left onto the path/minor road which leads up to the B5289.

The “Route for All” finishes here, so those following that route will need to turn around here and retrace your route back to the start..

The route ‘for many’ continues for a further 1.25km. Proceed along the narrow roadside path north. This is undulating and, although not steep, is uneven in places.  (N.B. there is nowhere along this approximately 700m section for two mobility scooters, wheelchairs or children’s buggies to pass).

Take the track to the left (grid reference NY 26842266), running between a fence and hedge (N.B. again there are no passing places along this approximately 180m section).

At the end, turn left then follow the path which bends round to the right through Cockshott Woods.  Turn right at the far side of the wood, back on to the ‘for all’ section of the path, returning along the lakeshore.

Please note that mobility scooters must be class 2 or 3 on the route.