Braithwaite
Ready for your day: the walks from Braithwaite, the tops above it, and the bus to the start.
Daylight on 27 October: sunrise 07:04, sunset 16:48
The tops Decent on Barf, the best of the 6 fells nearest Braithwaite: dry verdicts for 27 October
Choose from all 18 walksExplore the map
Closed Keswick to Threlkeld trail: the River Greta bridge is closed for replacement, until 12 November 2026.
Closed Whinlatter: sections of bridleway 201006 and footpath 201044 are closed for forestry thinning, until 11 May 2027.
A walk can have more than one way to its start. Verdicts: the site’s scorer reading the weather on each top, not whether a walk suits you. Daylight: worked out for the centre of Braithwaite; a latest start assumes a steady pace and an hour in hand before dusk, a computed time, not a guarantee. Closures: the Authority’s notices as of 27 October. How we check →
First light
The sun reaches the Stile End, Outerside, Causey Pike, Rowling End start about 08:09 in October · sunrise 07:42
From the terrain around the start (Copernicus GLO-30), mid-month · how we work it outThe last bus
From Braithwaite, at Croft Terrace:
Towards Keswick (77): Tuesday to Sunday 17:37 to Keswick, 16:37 to Cockermouth.
Towards Workington (X5): Tuesday to Thursday 22:27; Friday and Saturday 00:22 (after midnight); Sunday 20:17.
As timetabled from 27 October to 1 November · checked against the operator’s timetable, 24 September · the bus mapA day from Braithwaite
On the fells
Verdicts for 27 October, lowest fell first:
- Barrow 455 m Save it
- Barf 469 m Decent
- Dodd (Skiddaw) 502 m Save it
- Outerside 568 m Save it
- Causey Pike 637 m Save it
- Grisedale Pike 790 m Save it
Mountain forecast
Met Office mountain forecast for the Lake District (opens in new tab)
The forecasters’ own words for the tops.Explore Braithwaite
The walks from Braithwaite on one map, with the fells above them, the buses that reach their starts, and where to park. Choose a walk to see how you reach its start; everything on the map is in the lists below it.
An overview, not a navigation map: carry a map and compass on the fell. Lines are simplified from our GPX; distances to a stop or landing are on foot, the others in a straight line. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, SRTM; map style © OpenTopoMap (CC-BY-SA).
The walks on the map
18 walks that start within 5 km of Braithwaite, as Walks from Braithwaite lists them, the ones you reach on foot first, then by bus, then by car; shortest first within each:
All 18 walks
Each filter reads the walk’s own card: how you reach the start is its lines below; effort is its band, the size of the day from the distance and the climb; length is its distance in the route pages’ length grades. One answer to each question; the map shows the same walks.
Stile End, Outerside, Causey Pike, Rowling End
10.08 km · ~692 m up · ~3–4¼ h
Moderate effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 42%.
- On foot from the village starts by the bus stop at Croft Terrace
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas)
Scar Crags, Causey Pike
12.16 km · ~848 m up · ~3¾–5¼ h
Moderate effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 42%.
- On foot from the village starts by the bus stop at Croft Terrace
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas)
Coledale Round
16.13 km · ~1277 m up · ~5¼–7¼ h
Severe effort Hard: distance, steepness, navigation and exposure
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 32%. Exposure and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground.
Starts at Whinlatter Pass road car park (above Braithwaite)
- On foot from the village 720 m to the start, from the bus stop at Croft Terrace
- By bus 77, 720 m walk from Braithwaite, at Croft Terrace
- By car park at Kinn car park
Ard Crags & Knott Rigg
19.31 km · ~708 m up · ~5–6¾ h
Hard effort Hard: distance and steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 33%.
One-way: finishes at Keswick
- On foot from the village starts by the bus stop at Croft Terrace
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car start at Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas)
Friar's Crag & the Derwentwater shore
4.22 km · ~43 m up · ~¾–1¼ h
Easy effort Moderate: navigation
Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground.
Starts at Keswick town centre, by Booths
- By bus X5 at the start
- By car park at Keswick Rugby Club car park (paid)
Catbells: the short way up
5.67 km · ~407 m up · ~1¾–2½ h
Easy effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 31%.
Starts at Hawes End
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Skelgill Bank, north car park
Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How
7.32 km · ~261 m up · ~1¾–2¾ h
Easy effort Moderate: navigation
Navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
Starts at Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid)
Maiden Moor and High Spy
10.16 km · ~653 m up · ~3–4¼ h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 32%.
Starts at Brackenburn layby, below Cat Bells
- By bus 77, 910 m walk from Brandelhow Park (outside)
- By car park at unnamed layby south-east of Cat Bells
Little Dale Horseshoe
10.77 km · ~793 m up · ~3¼–4¾ h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 34%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground.
Starts at Chapel Bridge Car Park
- By bus 77, 2.7 km walk from Manesty, outside Cocklety How
- By car park at Little Town, Newlands (paid, small)
Birketts around Grisedale Pike
11.7 km · ~750 m up · ~3½–5 h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 27%.
Starts at Whinlatter - Forestry Commission Car Park
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Whinlatter Visitor Centre (paid)
Scope End, Hindscarth & Dale Head from Little Town
12.08 km · ~757 m up · ~3½–5 h
Moderate effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 37%.
Starts at Chapel Bridge Car Park
- By bus 77, 2.7 km walk from Manesty, outside Cocklety How
- By car park at Little Town, Newlands (paid, small)
Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell from Keswick
12.53 km · ~658 m up · ~3½–5 h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 32%.
Starts at Keswick town centre
- By bus X5 at the start
- By car park at Keswick, Central Car Park (paid)
Catbells, Maiden Moor & High Spy
12.59 km · ~726 m up · ~3½–5 h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 29%.
Starts at Hawes End
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Skelgill Bank, north car park
Latrigg, Little Man, Sale & Cumbria Way Section
18.15 km · ~971 m up · ~5¼–7 h
Hard effort Hard: distance and steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 32%.
Starts at Keswick
- By bus X5, 450 m walk from Keswick, at Greta Bank
- By car park at Keswick Old Station, hotel car park (paid)
Dodd from Dodd Wood
6.26 km · ~398 m up · ~1¾–2¾ h
Easy effort Moderate: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 21%. Navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked.
Starts at Dodd Wood car park
- By bus, not from Braithwaite X4 at the start
- By car park at Dodd Wood (paid)
Skiddaw via Ullock Pike and Dodd
12.41 km · ~1123 m up · ~4¼–6 h
Hard effort Hard: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 33%. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground.
Starts at Dodd Wood / Mirehouse forestry car park
- By bus, not from Braithwaite X4 at the start
- By car park at Dodd Wood (paid)
Ashness Bridge & Surprise View
13.43 km · ~322 m up · ~3–4½ h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 26%.
Starts at Keswick (lakeside)
- By bus, not from Braithwaite 78, 350 m walk from Keswick, outside Daleview Hotel
- By car park at Lakeside long stay car park, Keswick (paid)
The full circuit of Derwentwater from Keswick
14.38 km · ~103 m up · ~3–4¼ h
Moderate effort Hard: distance
Measured from the GPX track: the distance.
Starts at Keswick, the lakeside landing stages
- By bus, not from Braithwaite 78, 530 m walk from Keswick, outside Daleview Hotel
- By car park at Lakeside long stay car park, Keswick (paid)
The fells on the map
Verdicts for 27 October, lowest fell first:
- Latrigg 369 m Decent
- Cat Bells (Catbells) 451 m Save it
- Barrow 455 m Save it
- Barf 469 m Decent
- Dodd (Skiddaw) 502 m Save it
- Broom Fell 510 m Save it
- Whinlatter (Brown How) 517 m Save it
- Lord's Seat 552 m Save it
- Outerside 568 m Save it
- Ard Crags 581 m Save it
- Causey Pike 637 m Save it
- Scar Crags 672 m Save it
- Long Side 734 m Save it
- Carl Side 747 m Save it
- Hopegill Head 770 m Save it
- Sail 773 m Save it
- Grisedale Pike 790 m Save it
Buses and stops
The buses that call in Braithwaite:
- The 77: seasonal, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 September 2026 to 1 November 2026; and on 15 listed dates, 7 September 2026 to 25 September 2026
Their stops on this map:
- Bowder Stone, Grange: the 77 · stop page
- Brandelhow Park: the 77 · stop page
- Bridge, Grange: the 77 · stop page
- Bus Station (K), Keswick: the 77 · stop page
- Cattle Grid, Hawes End: the 77 · stop page
- Cocklety How, Manesty: the 77 · stop page
- Court Hotel, Buttermere: the 77 · stop page
- Croft Terrace, Braithwaite: the 77 · stop page
- Dalegarth Guest House, Hassness: the 77 · stop page
- Derwent Bridge, Low Portinscale: the 77 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
- General Store, Rosthwaite: the 77 · stop page
- Green Road, Swinside: the 77 · stop page
- High Hill Garage: the 77 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
- Hillside, Low Portinscale: the 77 · stop page
- Howe Lane end, Rosthwaite: the 77 · stop page
- Longthwaite road end, Rosthwaite: the 77 · stop page
- Mountain Rescue Point, Gatesgarth: the 77 · stop page
- Nichol End: the 77 · stop page
- Portinscale House: the 77 · stop page
- Village Caf, Grange: the 77 · stop page
- Visitors Centre, Whinlatter: the 77 · stop page
- Youth Hostel, Buttermere: the 77 · stop page
Where the buses stop, not when: the stop and route pages have the timetables.
Car parks and toilets
- Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) · in Parking near Braithwaite
- Kinn car park · in Parking near Braithwaite
- Kinn (verge, east) · in Parking near Braithwaite
- Kinn (verge, north) (free) · in Parking near Braithwaite
- Noble Knott, Whinlatter (Forestry England, free) (free, Forestry England) · in Parking near Braithwaite
- Uzzicar, 0.6 km N (layby) (free) · in Parking near Braithwaite
Toilets near those car parks:
- Outside Jasper's coffee shop (open when the shop is) (free), about 89 m from Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) in a straight line
Paths closed on these walks
- Closed Keswick to Threlkeld trail: the River Greta bridge is closed for replacement, until 12 November 2026. On Castlerigg Stone Circle (from Keswick), Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail, with a Pub.
- Closed Whinlatter: sections of bridleway 201006 and footpath 201044 are closed for forestry thinning, until 11 May 2027. On Birketts around Grisedale Pike, Whinlatter Forest: Tarbarrel Moss, Ullister Hill & Seat How.
The Authority’s notices as of 27 October; a walk counts once an editor has checked its line against the notice.
Braithwaite at a glance
Braithwaite is a quiet, characterful little village in the northern Lake District, just two miles west of Keswick — close enough to use Keswick and Derwentwater as your own, far enough to escape the bustle. It sits at the foot of the Whinlatter Pass, where the Whinlatter and Newlands mountain roads begin, with the A66 slipping past just to the north (handy, but it leaves the village quiet). Behind it rises a fine skyline — the Coledale Horseshoe of Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Crag Hill, Sail, Causey Pike and Barrow.
For walkers it's a gem of a base: the Coledale Round starts from the village, Barrow rises straight from the houses, the National Trust's Force Crag Mine sits up the valley, and Whinlatter Forest and the quiet western lakes (Buttermere, Crummock, Loweswater) are minutes away. A handful of good pubs and a village shop round it out.
Quick facts
| Where | Northern Lake District, Cumbria — ~2 miles west of Keswick, civil parish of Above Derwent |
|---|---|
| How to say it | "BRETH-it" (/ˈbrɛθɪt/) — the "ai" is not sounded as in "wait"; a genuine visitor puzzle |
| Setting | On Coledale Beck, at the foot of the Whinlatter & Newlands passes; the A66 bypasses it |
| Famous for | The Coledale Horseshoe on the doorstep, Force Crag Mine, and an easy-going Keswick base |
| Train station | None (the old line closed) — nearest rail is Penrith (~20 mi); Keswick (~2 mi) for buses |
| Getting there | Off the A66; the X5 bus (Penrith–Keswick–Cockermouth–Workington) stops in the village |
| Dogs | Very dog-friendly — the fells, the valley and the village pubs |
| Weather | Mild but wet; the Coledale fells catch the weather — pack waterproofs |
Why visit Braithwaite? Is it a good base?
Yes — Braithwaite is a good-value walking base for the northern Lakes, precisely because it is quiet but minutes from Keswick and Derwentwater. You get a genuine village (pubs, a shop, a strong sense of place) rather than a resort, with the big draw being the walking straight from the door: the Coledale Horseshoe behind, Barrow above the houses, and the Force Crag valley leading into the hills.
It's also an excellent touring base — the Whinlatter and Newlands passes start here, so the western lakes (Buttermere, Crummock Water, Loweswater), Whinlatter Forest and the Bassenthwaite osprey country are all within easy reach, and Keswick's shops, launches and Derwentwater are two miles down the road. If you want the northern fells without Keswick's crowds and prices, this is the spot. Check the live "Best fells today" conditions before heading up.
Walks & fells from Braithwaite
This is Braithwaite's headline, and where our fell and route guides come into their own. Always check the live conditions and the mountain forecast first.
The Coledale Horseshoe — our walked Coledale Round Walked May 2026 starts right here. A classic Lakeland round climbs from the village over Grisedale Pike, along the airy ridge to Hopegill Head, then Crag Hill and Sail, with Causey Pike, Outerside, Stile End and Barrow completing the horseshoe — six Wainwrights and a full day of ridge-walking in the north-west, on a route walked and written up from the village.
Barrow — the short, friendly fell (455 m) that rises straight from the houses: a big Coledale-and-Derwentwater view for modest effort, and a good easy fell walk.
Force Crag Mine & the Coledale valley — a low-level there-and-back up the old mine track to the National Trust's restored mine (~2.75 miles each way; see below). It's one of the Authority's "Miles Without Stiles" routes (number 30, graded "for some"), and a fine walk for a cloudy day or younger legs.
Whinlatter & Newlands — forest trails in Whinlatter just up the pass, and over into Newlands for Cat Bells and the Ard Crags & Knott Rigg route Planned — both within a few minutes of the village.
Use the fells on the map in Explore Braithwaite, above, and the live "Best fells today" conditions to pick the right hill.
The walks from Braithwaite are in Explore Braithwaite above, on one map and in a list you can filter by how you reach the start.
Places nearby: Portinscale · Whinlatter Forest · Keswick · Derwentwater
Force Crag Mine & the Coledale valley
One of Braithwaite's most distinctive outings, and a story most guides under-tell. Force Crag Mine, about 2.75 miles up the remote Coledale valley, was the last working mine in the Lake District — it mined and processed zinc, lead and barytes until it finally closed in 1991. The National Trust now looks after the site, and the mill buildings still hold their ore-processing machinery largely intact — believed the only former mineral mine in the country to have kept its processing equipment in something like working order.
You can walk up to the mine at any time — the old track climbs gently into Coledale beneath the crags, a rewarding low-level walk with a high-mountain feel. The mill buildings open on the National Trust's occasional open days, when guides take visitors round to see the machinery (there's no access to the underground workings); dates are on the Trust's Borrowdale and Derwent Water events page. It's well worth timing a visit for one if you can.
Whinlatter Forest, Newlands & the passes
Braithwaite sits at the start of two of the Lakes' best mountain roads. The Whinlatter Pass climbs west to Whinlatter Forest — billed as England's only true mountain forest, with waymarked walking and mountain-bike trails, a Go Ape course, a visitor centre and café, and the famous osprey viewpoint (the birds nest near Bassenthwaite, viewable in season). The Newlands Pass strikes south-west over to Buttermere, a spectacular drive or cycle through one of the quietest valleys in the Lakes.
Beyond the passes lie the western lakes — Buttermere, Crummock Water and Loweswater — markedly quieter than the central honeypots, and easy to reach from Braithwaite for a day out.
Things to do, a day, a rainy day & with kids
- Walk the Coledale valley to Force Crag Mine — an easy, dramatic there-and-back with heritage at the end.
- Climb Barrow for a big view with little effort — a great first fell with children.
- Whinlatter Forest — trails, bikes, Go Ape and the café, plus the osprey viewpoint; an excellent rainy-day or family option under the trees.
- Pop into Keswick (two miles) for Derwentwater, the launches, the Theatre by the Lake and the shops when you want more bustle.
- A weekend works well as one big Coledale fell day, one easy/forest day, and an evening in the village pubs.
Where to stay
Braithwaite is small, so book ahead in season:
- Middle Ruddings — a comfortable country inn/hotel on the edge of the village, with a restaurant and bar.
- The Coledale Inn and The Royal Oak — village pubs with rooms (the Royal Oak recently refurbished); a traditional walkers' welcome (see Food & drink).
- Guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering cottages in and around the village.
- Camping & caravanning — there's a popular Camping and Caravanning Club site by the village, plus other touring options nearby.
Food & drink
For its size Braithwaite is well served, though for a big supermarket shop you'll want Keswick two miles away.
- The pubs — the Coledale Inn, the Royal Oak and Middle Ruddings all do walkers' food and a pint by the fire; the Royal Oak has been recently refurbished. (As ever, check current opening before a special trip.)
- The village shop / general store — by Low Bridge, for papers, basics and walkers' supplies, with a tea room through the shop; the place to grab a sandwich before the fells.
History & character
A quiet village with more story than its size suggests. The name is Old Norse — breiðr þveit, "broad clearing" (the -thwaite ending, a clearing, recurs all over the Norse-settled Lakes) — and is famously pronounced "BRETH-it," not as it's spelt. Braithwaite once had its own railway station on the Cockermouth, Keswick & Penrith line, long since closed. There's a small Orthodox church in a former Methodist chapel, dedicated to the British saints Bega, Mungo and Herbert — an unusual and lovely detail for such a small place — and, north-west of the village, the Hope Memorial Camp, an outdoor centre founded in 1923 by A. H. Hope, a London headmaster, to give city children time in the hills.
Weather & when to visit
Braithwaite has the classic, honest Lakeland climate — mild, green and frequently wet, with the Coledale fells wringing the weather out of the sky. Late spring and early autumn give a good balance of long days and settled spells; high summer is busiest; winter brings full winter conditions to the Coledale tops (for experienced, equipped walkers), while the valley walk to Force Crag and the forest trails at Whinlatter stay rewarding year-round. Whatever the season, check the live "Best fells today" conditions and the mountain forecast before heading up.
Getting there & parking
Without a car: The nearest stations as the crow flies are Aspatria (20 km away) and Maryport (23 km away); the 77, X5 and X5S stop at Croft Terrace, 0.1 km from here in a straight line. The 77 runs until 1 November 2026, the last day of its season. The bus map has every stop we hold.
Braithwaite is about two miles west of Keswick, just off the A66 — which bypasses the village, so you turn off the main road into a quiet centre. The Whinlatter and Newlands passes both start here, so it's a natural hub for the western fells and lakes.
There is no railway station (the old Cockermouth–Keswick–Penrith line closed decades ago). The nearest railhead is Penrith (~20 miles, on the West Coast Main Line); from Keswick (~2 miles) the X5 bus (Penrith–Keswick–Cockermouth–Workington) stops in the village, so you can reach Braithwaite car-free via Keswick.
Parking is limited — there is no large public car park, just on-street and a few spaces, so please park considerately and legally with respect for residents. Many walkers park in Keswick and bus or walk in.
Parking, toilets and buses: Parking near Braithwaite
Parking near Braithwaite
Toilets, food and shops near these car parks
Cafes: Middle Ruddings (opens in new tab), Ivy House (opens in new tab), Jasper's (opens in new tab)
Pubs: Royal Oak (opens in new tab), Coledale Inn (opens in new tab)
All the car parks around Braithwaite on the parking map →
Straight-line distances from the centre of Braithwaite. We publish whether a car park charges, and who runs it, but never the price — tariffs change and a stale one is worse than none, so check the sign or the operator’s own site on the day.
Vehicles are left entirely at their owner’s risk. We list places people park; we cannot vouch for any of them. Judge it on the day: take valuables with you, leave nothing on show, and if a spot feels wrong when you get there, park somewhere else.
Can you stay overnight?
- Noble Knott, Whinlatter (Forestry England, free) — run by Forestry England, which does not permit overnight parking. “Campervan overnight stays are permitted at selected forest car parks only” (checked 2026-08-05)
These are the land managers’ and the council’s own published rules, quoted. Where a car park is not listed here we have found no published rule for it, which is not the same as permission.
Getting there across the Lake District: Buses · Parking map · By train · By boat
Practical info
- Dogs: very welcome — the fells, the Coledale valley and the village pubs.
- Toilets: outside Jasper's coffee shop, on the site of the old public block, open when the shop is; otherwise the nearest public toilets are in Keswick.
- Cash & cards: cards are widely accepted; cash machines are scarce in such a small village — draw cash in Keswick.
- EV charging: very limited in the village — check your charging app; Keswick has more.
- Mountain Rescue & safety: the area is covered by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team; mobile signal is patchy on the Coledale fells, so carry a map and compass. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
Day trips & nearby
- Keswick — the northern Lakes' hub, two miles east: Derwentwater, the launches, shops and services.
- Whinlatter Forest — trails, bikes, Go Ape and the osprey viewpoint, up the pass.
- The Newlands valley — quiet, beautiful, and the way over to Buttermere.
- Buttermere, Crummock Water & Loweswater — the quieter western lakes, over the Newlands or Whinlatter passes.
- Bassenthwaite & the osprey viewpoint — the lake north of Keswick, with the Dodd Wood ospreys in season.
- Cockermouth — the handsome Georgian market town (Wordsworth's birthplace) to the north-west.
Frequently asked questions about Braithwaite
How do you pronounce Braithwaite?
Where is Braithwaite?
Is Braithwaite a good base for the Lake District?
What are the best walks from Braithwaite?
What is Force Crag Mine?
Sources: Lake District National Park — Braithwaite to Force Crag Mine (opens in new tab)
What pubs are in Braithwaite?
How far is Braithwaite from Keswick?
Sources: Stagecoach X4/X5 — Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick, Penrith (opens in new tab)
Does the Coledale Round start from Braithwaite?
Events across the Lake District
Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Braithwaite — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.