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Lake District
Valley and Low-level Walks
Keswick Railway Track and Castlerigg Stone
Circle
The Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith
railway line was last used by trains in 1972. The trackbed crosses and
recrosses the lovely meandering River Greta, using bowstring steel bridges
– some are upright and some are underslung. In the 1980s the Lake District
National Park Authority (LNPA) created the footpath and have maintained it
well since then.
Information
Start/finish The old station yard at
Keswick, grid ref 270238. If approaching from the south east on the A591,
turn acute right just before you reach the main shopping centre, at a
major junction signposted for the museum, swimming pool and Keswick Hotel.
Follow the road past the museum, and where it winds round the hotel, and
continue on round to a mini-roundabout. Turn left and left again, just
before the rear of the swimming pool, to make use of the parking bays at
the end of the old railway track.
Distance 4.1/2 miles/7.4km
Time 3 hours
Height gain 130ft/40m
Terrain The old railway track is level and in good condition. Some quiet
road walking.
Refreshments: Good choice in Keswick
Toilets Keswick
Map OS Explorer OL4
The Walk
1 From the parking area, return to the
trackbed and walk on to cross the long bridge over the River Greta, which
here flows through a fine wide gorge. The bridge is an inverted bowstring
constructed of steel girders. Thomas Bouch designed them in this way to
span the many gorges on the Greta - he also designed the ill-fated Tay
bridge! Go on to pass under a road bridge and then on past the historic
settlement of Brigham, which lies in a tree-girt hollow. The fast-flowing
Greta was ideal for powering the mills established here from the 14th
century onwards.
2 Above the hamlet stretches the white-stilted viaduct carrying the A66.
Go on past a sculptured signpost to come to a gate below the modern-day
bridge. Another gate gives access to a well graded descending wooden
walkway, one of the LDNPs innovations. It passes high over a picturesque
stretch of the river. Continue on the pleasing way to go past Low Briery
Holiday Village. Read the interesting information board about the history
of the area including its bobbin mill, which closed in 1961. Stroll on,
crossing more bridges to reach a refurbished hut, on the right, once used
by the navvies (navigators), the builders of the track. There is more
information here about the railway line, and seats both inside and out.
3 Cross the next bridge and at its end turn right onto a signposted path
that gently climbs through trees to a kissing gate. Beyond, go on to
half-way up the field above to a signpost that directs you, right, along
it. Pass through another kissing gate and then on through the refurbished
underpass below the busy A66. Once through, take the next signed kissing
gate and slant up the slope to another road - the old route to Keswick
from Penrith. Turn left and then, after quarter-of-a-mile, bear right. A
short way along turn right again and walk for half-a-mile to the entrance
to the Castlerigg stone circle, where you will want to wander around the
great stones. They form an oval shape but this circle is unique in having
extra stones forming an oblong on one side. The circle stands on a flat
area in a large pasture surrounded at a distance by some of the Lake
District’s most dramatic fells. The circle is believed to have been put in
place during the Stone Age, between BC 2,500 and 1,300. It may have been
used as a meeting place for bartering livestock, exchanging partners or
celebrating tribal festivals. It may also have been used to calculate the
cycle of seasons vital for farmers.
4 After enjoying this wonderful atmospheric site return to the road and
continue on along it for two-thirds of a mile (no pavement) to join the
A591 coming in on your right, which you cross and walk on for a few steps.
Wind on round right for a few more steps, towards the town, and then
descend right before the Travis Perkins Works to drop down steps to the
railway track once more. Turn right, go under the road bridge and continue
to cross the wide high bridge over the River Greta. A short way on along
the track brings you back to the parking area.
Pix
Bridge beyond hut, where you turn right 4469
Blease Fell from the stone circle 4351
Castlerigg Stone circle and a couple kissing! 4352
Keswick walks - Dowthwaitehead and
Thirlmere
Tarn Hows walk
Buttermere
walks
Ullswater
walks
Borrowdale
and Seatoller, Watendlath and Rosthwaite walks
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