Calf Close Bay via Castlehead, Keswick, England

🐶 - Dog friendly walk for most active dogs

🚗 - Parking available in Keswick town, pay and display car parks

📏 - 3-5 miles depending on which route you take

The walk to Calf Close Bay is a brilliant low-level circular walk from Keswick, that takes in lots of the highlights of a lake walk, without the commitment of the full 10 miles around Derwentwater.

Starting from the town centre, head up St John’s Street, past The George, the Alhambra cinema and St John’s Church. Keep going along the same road for around 10 minutes, until you see the steps ahead of you. Instead of going up the steps, turn right down Springs Road.

About halfway down Springs Road, on your right, you’ll find the narrow path that takes you to Castlehead (beware of nettles!). Once you’re through the kissing gate, you can choose to either carry on up to the Castlehead viewpoint, or to keep this walk low-level, and follow the path round to the left.

The path takes you through Castlehead wood, and down onto Borrowdale Road. It’s not a particularly steep path but it can get a little slippery when wet and muddy! Once at the Borrowdale Road, you’ll need to cross over, and squeeze through the gap in the hedge. Turn left through the gap, keeping the road on your left, and the fields on your right. In wet weather, this footpath is fantastic for puddle jumping, so make sure to wear your wellies or waterproof boots!

If you carry on down the puddley path, you’ll get to a lane on your right hand side. You can take this path, and this will take you straight back to the boardwalk, and into Keswick via the lakeshore. This is a good cut back if you’re short on time, or have littlies with tired legs! If you continue on though, you’ll eventually cross two small wooden bridges, and will shortly after arrive at the shores of Calf Close Bay on Derwentwater. If you visit in summer, you’ll be greeted by fields of wild garlic either side of the path.

As you emerge through the clearing onto Calf Close Bay, take note of the interesting patterns of the tree roots. These have become exposed as the Derwentwater has lapped away at them over time. It’s at this point that you’ll want to remove your flask of coffee from your Derwentwater Waxed Canvas Rucksack, or your Ambleside Day Pack, and take the time to sit and take in the natural beauty of the lake, and surrounding mountains. Whilst you’re spoilt for choice with benches, my personal favourite place to sit is on one of the large rocks, beneath the trees.

It’s from this position of peace and tranquillity that you’ll see the National Trust Centenary Stones across the bay to your right. The Centenary Stones are a large piece of volcanic rock that were carved to commemorate the centenary of the National Trust in the Lake District. Each of the folded segments of the unique design represents a decade, the ten of them together depicting a century. Depending on the time of year you visit (and the Lake District weather!) you may find that the stones are partially submerged in Derwentwater, or you may be able to walk all the way around them, and keep your feet completely dry! Either way, you can rest assured that there’s a fab photo opportunity to be had.

Once you’ve passed the Centenary Stones, the path will take you through a small wooded area, and out into a sheep field. The sheep field is gated, and if you’ve got a dog with you, you will need to make sure that they’re on a lead and under control. Follow the path over the cattle grid, and continue until you reach the boardwalk. The boardwalk takes you back to the lake path, to another sheep field. You can often see flocks of geese in the field parallel as well. Continue along the path, and you’ll see Friar’s Crag jutting out over the lake. You can make your way round to Friar’s Crag by following the path through the gate, then going back on yourself to the left. Don’t forget to take a picture of the iconic Friar’s Crag bench! Amongst the trees here you can also find the Ruskin Memorial.

From here you can make your way back into Keswick, past the launches and the Theatre by the Lake, and into the town centre.