Castle Crag from Seatoller trail: the scenic route
Scaling Castle Crag from Seatoller starts with a bit of a climb, then follows a rolling contour route giving you great views right across the valley. This is definitely the civilized way to climb Castle Crag.
Total steps: 8
Total steps: 8
Start point
Seatoller National Trust car park, CA12 5XN
Step 1
Leave the car park, turning right onto the road. Follow the road through the hamlet . Take your first right through the gate onto a wide track. Follow the track as it goes up and turns to the left up towards a gate. Go through the gate and continue following the wide track with the wall to your left.
Step 2
After going through a coppice of trees, the path crosses a small stream. At the stream, turn hard right and walk straight up the hill towards a gate in the wall above you. Go through the gate and turn right along the wall. This path hugs the contours high up on the flank of the fell. You'll stay on this track now all the way to Castle Crag.
Step 3
The footbridge across Tongue Gill is a big landmark on the way – this is the biggest gill the path crosses before Castle Crag. If you need to, there is an option just before and just after the gill to take a shortcut down to the hamlet of Rosthwaite (the huddle of white houses round a small green hill). However, if you're keen to carry on to Castle Crag, simply continue along the track until at the cusp of the brow you get your first glimpse of the lake of Derwent Water.
Step 4
Just over the brow when you get your first sight of Derwent Water, take a little 'sheep track' path that forks off to the right. It skirts round the base of a crag then follows the fence to a ladder stile. Climb the ladder stile and turn right to join the main path up to the top of Castle Crag. You don't have to use the 'sheep track' path, but it avoids losing height.
Step 5
Retrace your steps to descend Castle Crag, but don't go back over the ladder stile. Instead, follow the main path down the hill. Once you're into the woods, take the right-hand fork over the footbridge. Where the path reaches the river, follow the path signposted 'Rosthwaite 1¾ miles'. You're now on the return leg of the walk, heading back towards the car park.
Step 6
As the path meanders away from the river and into the woodland, you'll come across a fork in the path heading up to the right. This will take you up to to Millican Dalton's Cave. You can add this in and return to this point (it's not far and it's well worth a look), or you can continue straight on, following the signpost to Rosthwaite.
Step 7
When you get to the packhorse bridge over the river, ignore the stone bridge (unless your feet have had enough and you want to catch the bus back to the car from Rosthwaite). Continue straight ahead over the wooden footbridge, and keep on the path beside the river, past the stepping stones until you get to the YHA hostel at Longthwaite.
Step 8
From the hostel at Longthwaite, follow the path along the river back towards Seatoller. There's a scrambly bit where a chain's been attached to the rock to give you a helping hand, but if you take it steady it's less daunting than it looks. The path then leads you round the bottom of Johnny Wood, along the wall and all the way back to the car park at Seatoller.
End point
Seatoller National Trust car park, CA12 5XN
Trail map
More near here
Octavia Hill walk at Brandelhow Park, Derwent Water
Enjoy a relaxing amble through parkland at Brandelhow and along the quiet side of Derwent Water, following in the footsteps of National Trust co-founder Octavia Hill.
Walla Crag to Ashness Bridge walk
This walk takes you through the timeless beauty of the Borrowdale landscape and up to magnificent viewpoints which are spectacular in every season.
Borger Dalr geology walk
Discover more about the origins of Borrowdale on the Borger Dalr geology walk. If you are lucky, you may even see a red squirrel too.
Seatoller, Styhead Tarn and Grains Gill walk
An invigorating circular walk takes you from Seathwaite into the heart of the Lakeland fells, with peaceful tarns to picnic by and views of Great End and Great Gable.
Get in touch
Our partners
We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
You might also be interested in
Walking in the Lake District
From gentle ambles to more challenging hikes, these are some of the best walks to explore the heart of the Lake District.
Walking
Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.
Top tips for hill and mountain walking
Learn about the essential clothing and equipment to take with you, keeping your energy levels up, staying safe and leaving the environment as you found it.
Staying safe at National Trust places
The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.
Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner
Find out more about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor as our exclusive walking partner.
Things to see at Derwent Water and Keswick
Take in the views from Friar’s Crag and visit historic sculptures on a lakeside walk around Derwent Water or set off from Keswick to explore the surrounding woodlands and fells.
Activities on Derwent Water
Take to the water for a spot of canoeing, paddleboarding or paddling. The islands of Derwent Water are waiting to be discovered