A rocky little fell from Grange — at 290 m the lowest of the 214 Wainwrights, with a huge view, old quarry caves, and a popular ~5-mile loop from the village.

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Grange-in-Borrowdale

Q: Is Grange in Borrowdale?

Yes — it's the village in the Borrowdale valley about four miles south of Keswick, on the River Derwent below Derwentwater. (Not the same as Grange-over-Sands on Morecambe Bay.)

Q: What is there to do in Grange-in-Borrowdale?

The double bridge, climbing Castle Crag (the lowest Wainwright), the River Derwent for paddling/swimming, and the Bowder Stone nearby.

Q: What is the famous bridge at Grange?

A double-arched packhorse bridge over the River Derwent, built in 1675 — and much photographed.

Q: What are the best walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Castle Crag (the lowest Wainwright, via the quarry caves) is the classic; also the gentle Bowder Stone & River Derwent loop, King's How, and riverside walks, with the high Borrowdale ridge above.

Q: Where do you park at Grange-in-Borrowdale?

A small, limited car park by the bridge that fills early — better to come by the 78 bus from Keswick or the Derwentwater launch.

Q: Can you swim in the river at Grange?

Yes — it's a popular paddling and wild-swimming spot with shingle beaches; take the usual cold-water care and never swim when the river is in spate after rain.

Q: How far is Grange from Keswick?

About four miles south on the B5289 — 10–15 minutes by car, or the 78 Borrowdale bus from Keswick.

Q: What is the Bowder Stone?

A famous giant balanced boulder up the valley from Grange, with steel steps to the top — a favourite with children.

Q: Is Grange-in-Borrowdale dog-friendly?

Very — lots of dog-friendly cottages and great riverside/fell walks; keep dogs under control around livestock.

Ready for your day: the walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale, the tops above it, and the bus to the start.

Daylight on 27 October: sunrise 07:04, sunset 16:48

1 walkOn foot from the village
19 walksBy bus

The tops Decent on Castle Crag and Great Crag (Stonethwaite), the best of the 6 fells nearest Grange-in-Borrowdale verdicts for 27 October

Choose from all 19 walks Explore the map

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 Grange-in-Borrowdale; a latest start assumes a steady pace and an hour in hand before dusk, a computed time, not a guarantee. How we check →

First light

The sun reaches the Bowder Stone car park, Borrowdale start about 11:59 in October · sunrise 07:42

From the terrain around the start (Copernicus GLO-30), mid-month · how we work it out

The last bus

From Grange, at Bowder Stone:

Towards Keswick (77A): Tuesday to Saturday 18:51 to Cockermouth, 16:51 to Keswick; Sunday 16:51.

Towards Seatoller (78): Tuesday to Sunday 19:48.

As timetabled from 27 October to 1 November · checked against the operator’s timetable, 7 September · the bus map

A day from Grange-in-Borrowdale

On the fells

Verdicts for 27 October, lowest fell first:

Castle Crag 290 m Decent
Grange Fell (Brund Fell) 417 m Save it
Great Crag (Stonethwaite) 449 m Decent
Cat Bells (Catbells) 451 m Save it
Maiden Moor 575 m Save it
High Spy 653 m Save it

The fells nearest Grange-in-Borrowdale · all 214 ranked · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

On the water

Keswick Launch on Derwentwater: Runs all year, on a summer timetable and a winter timetable; the operator posts a same-day service status.

Landings: Keswick, Ashness Gate (Barrow Bay), Lodore, High Brandelhow, Low Brandelhow, Hawes End, Nichol End

Landing seasons as of 27 October; the operator’s page read 17 September · Keswick Launch’s own timetable and status

Mountain forecast

Met Office mountain forecast for the Lake District (opens in new tab)

The forecasters’ own words for the tops.

Explore Grange-in-Borrowdale

The walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale 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

19 walks that start within 5 km of Grange-in-Borrowdale, as Walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale lists them, the ones you reach on foot first, then by bus, then by car; shortest first within each:

The Bowder Stone
1.16 km there and back · ~16 m up · ~¼–½ h
Easy effort Moderate: navigation
Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground.
Starts at Bowder Stone car park, Borrowdale · Out and back
- On foot from the village starts by the bus stop at Bowder Stone
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Quay Foot Quarry, Borrowdale (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
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
The route, its map and GPX →
Castle Crag from Rosthwaite
6.02 km · ~254 m up · ~1½–2¼ 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 Rosthwaite
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Rosthwaite (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
Black Star Brandreth and others
9.29 km · ~629 m up · ~2¾–4 h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 33%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground.
Starts at Honister Slate Mine
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Honister Pass (paid, slate mine)
The route, its map and GPX →
Great Gable from Honister Slate Mine
9.61 km · ~721 m up · ~3–4¼ h
Moderate effort Severe: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 45%. Navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
Starts at Honister Slate Mine
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Honister (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
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
The route, its map and GPX →
Watendlath & the packhorse bridge
10.33 km · ~298 m up · ~2½–3½ h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 27%.
Starts at Borrowdale (B5289)
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Surprise View (NT) (paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
The Difficult Route up Eagle Crag
10.71 km · ~611 m up · ~3–4¼ h
Moderate effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 46%.
Starts at Stonethwaite
- By bus 78, 710 m walk from Rosthwaite, opposite Longthwaite road end
- By car park at Stonethwaite village (roadside, free)
The route, its map and GPX →
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)
The route, its map and GPX →
Haystacks
11.21 km · ~792 m up · ~3½–4¾ h
Moderate effort Hard: steepness and navigation
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 31%. Navigation: estimated from the map, not checked on the ground.
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car park at Honister Pass (paid, slate mine)
The route, its map and GPX →
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)
The route, its map and GPX →
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
The route, its map and GPX →
The Borrowdale Fells (Rosthwaite Fell round)
13.23 km · ~850 m up · ~4–5½ h
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 45%.
Starts at Rosthwaite
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Rosthwaite (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
Castle Crag, Brund Fell & Great Crag
14.11 km · ~838 m up · ~4–5¾ h
Hard effort Hard: distance and steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained climb, about 31%.
Starts at Rosthwaite
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Rosthwaite (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
Ullscarf, Eagle Crag & Sergeant's Crag
14.83 km · ~756 m up · ~4–5¾ h
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 45%.
Starts at Stonethwaite
- By bus 78, 430 m walk from Rosthwaite, opposite Longthwaite road end
- By car park at Stonethwaite lane (layby) (free)
The route, its map and GPX →
Seathwaite, Green Gable, Base Brown
15.85 km · ~960 m up · ~4¾–6½ h
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 42%.
Starts at Seatoller, south-east field car park
- By bus 78, 820 m walk from Seatoller, at National Trust car park
- By car park at Seatoller, south-east field car park (paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat, High Tove and Armboth Fell
17.02 km · ~812 m up · ~4¾–6½ h
Hard effort Hard: distance and steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 26%.
Starts at Ashness Gate Car Park
- By bus 78 at the start
- By car park at Walla Crag car park (free)
The route, its map and GPX →
Dale Head Hindscarth and Robinson
17.46 km · ~808 m up · ~4¾–6½ h
Hard effort Hard: distance and steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 27%.
One-way: finishes at Keswick
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car start at Honister (NT, paid)
The route, its map and GPX →
Honister to Keswick: over the Newlands fells
19.62 km · ~1057 m up · ~5½–7¾ h
Hard effort Severe: steepness
Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 38%.
Starts at Honister Slate Mine · One-way: finishes at Keswick
- By bus 77 at the start
- By car start at Honister Pass (paid, slate mine)
The route, its map and GPX →

The fells on the map

Verdicts for 27 October, lowest fell first:

Castle Crag 290 m Decent
Walla Crag 379 m Save it
Grange Fell (Brund Fell) 417 m Save it
Great Crag (Stonethwaite) 449 m Decent
Cat Bells (Catbells) 451 m Save it
Armboth Fell (Armboth Fell South Top) 475 m Marginal
High Tove 515 m Save it
Maiden Moor 575 m Save it
Bleaberry Fell 590 m Save it
High Seat 609 m Save it
Causey Pike 637 m Save it
High Spy 653 m Save it
Hindscarth 727 m Save it
Dale Head 754 m Save it

Buses, stops and the launch

The buses that call in Grange-in-Borrowdale:

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
The 78

Their stops on this map:

Bowder Stone, Grange: the 77 and 78 · stop pages: the 78 stop, the 77 and 78 stop
Brandelhow Park: the 77 · stop page
Bridge, Grange: the 77 and 78 · stop pages: the 77 and 78 stop, the 78 stop
Bus Station (K), Keswick: the 77 and 78 · stop page
Calfclose Bay, Ashness: the 78 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
Cattle Grid, Hawes End: the 77 · stop page
Cocklety How, Manesty: the 77 · stop page
Croft Terrace, Braithwaite: the 77 · stop page
Dalegarth Guest House, Hassness: the 77 · stop page
Daleview Hotel, Keswick: the 78 · stop page
Derwent Bridge, Low Portinscale: the 77 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
Derwentwater Youth Hostel, Ashness: the 78 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
General Store, Rosthwaite: the 77 and 78 · stop pages: the 78 stop, the 77 and 78 stop
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
Hotel, Borrowdale: the 78 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
Howe Lane end, Rosthwaite: the 77 and 78 · stop pages: the 77 and 78 stop, the 78 stop
Lodore Hotel, Borrowdale: the 78 · stop pages: one side of the road, the other side
Longthwaite road end, Rosthwaite: the 77 and 78 · stop page
Mountain Rescue Point, Gatesgarth: the 77 · stop page
National Trust car park, Seatoller: the 77 and 78 · stop pages: the 77 and 78 stop, the 78 stop
Nichol End: the 77 · stop page
Portinscale House: the 77 · stop page
Stonethwaite road end, Rosthwaite: the 78 · stop page
The Daleview Hotel, Keswick: the 78 · stop page
Village Caf, Grange: the 77 · stop page
Visitors Centre, Whinlatter: the 77 · stop page
Youth Hostel, Honister: the 77 · stop page

Launch landings (Keswick Launch (opens in new tab) on Derwentwater), as of 27 October:

Keswick, on Derwentwater
Ashness Gate (Barrow Bay), on Derwentwater
Lodore, on Derwentwater
High Brandelhow, on Derwentwater
Low Brandelhow, on Derwentwater
Hawes End, on Derwentwater
Nichol End, on Derwentwater

Where the buses stop and where the launch lands, not when: the stop and route pages have the timetables, and the operator’s own page says whether a boat is running today.

Car parks and toilets

Quay Foot Quarry, Borrowdale (NT, paid) (pay and display, National Trust) · in Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale
Grange village car park (by the chapel) · in Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale
King's How (layby) (free) · in Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale
Castle Crag (layby) (free) · in Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale
Cat Bells, south-east (layby) (free) · in Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale

Grange-in-Borrowdale at a glance

Grange-in-Borrowdale is a tiny, postcard-pretty village in the heart of Borrowdale, about four miles south of Keswick and just below the foot of Derwentwater, where the River Derwent spills out of the dramatic Jaws of Borrowdale. Its name gives away its history — it began as a grange, the monastic farm of Furness Abbey in medieval times — and today it's a much-photographed corner of the valley, thanks to the double-arched packhorse bridge (built 1675) that carries the lane over the river.

For visitors it's a gem: Castle Crag — the lowest of the 214 Wainwrights — rises straight from the village, the Bowder Stone sits just up the valley, and the river's shingle beaches are a magnet on a warm day. It's very small, though — a hotel, a campsite, holiday cottages and (intermittently) a tearoom — so it's best thought of as a scenic base or a wonderful day out, with Keswick four miles north for shops and the full range of food.

Quick facts


Where	Borrowdale, Cumbria — ~4 miles south of Keswick, on the River Derwent below Derwentwater
Famous for	The double packhorse bridge (1675), Castle Crag (the lowest Wainwright) and the river
Getting there	The B5289 Borrowdale road; no railway (Keswick ~4 mi); the open-top 78 Borrowdale bus, or the Derwentwater launch
Parking	A small car park by the bridge — very limited, fills early; better to come by bus or launch
River	Shingle beaches for paddling & wild swimming (usual cold-water/flow caution)
Dogs / weather	Very dog-friendly; check the live fell conditions before Castle Crag or the higher fells

Why visit Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Grange packs an astonishing amount into a tiny space. You've got a bridge that's a photograph in itself; Castle Crag, a short, steep little fell with a view out of all proportion to its height; the River Derwent for paddling and swimming; and the Bowder Stone and the wider drama of Borrowdale on the doorstep — all in one lovely valley.

It works as a quiet, scenic base (a country-house hotel, a farm campsite, cottages) or as a superb day out from Keswick — ideally by the open-top bus or the launch, given how small the car park is. What it isn't is a place with shops or much in the way of evening life: that's part of the charm, but plan around it.

Things to do

The double bridge — the village's signature: a twin-arched packhorse bridge of 1675 over the Derwent, and a lovely spot to start.
Castle Crag — the short, sharp classic (see Walks below): old quarry caves, boulders and a tree swing on the way up make it a winner with children.
The River Derwent — shingle beaches for paddling and wild swimming, and gentle riverside strolls; take the usual care with cold water and after rain.
The Bowder Stone — a short walk or bus-hop up the valley to the famous giant balanced boulder, with steel steps to the top.
King's How (Grange Fell) — the National Trust top above the village, dedicated to Edward VII, with a fine Borrowdale view for modest effort.

Walks & fells from Grange

For such a small village, the walking is superb:

Castle Crag — at 290 m, the lowest of the 214 Wainwrights, and a brilliant short, steep climb straight from the village via the old slate-quarry caves. It's short, but it is not one of our easy & family walks: the final pull is steep and loose.
The Bowder Stone & River Derwent loop — a gentle, largely level easy walk taking in the famous boulder and the riverside bridleway.
King's How (Grange Fell) and Grange Fell — Brund Fell, with Great Crag beyond toward Watendlath.
The high ridge above Borrowdale — Maiden Moor, High Spy and Dale Head, linked on our Catbells–Maiden Moor–High Spy route Walked May 2026.

Check the live "Best Fells today" conditions before you set off. Explore Grange-in-Borrowdale, above, lists the fells on its map.

Cloud on the tops? Good walks in poor weather & low cloud lists the lower-risk routes we would try first: easy to navigate, low in exposure, never 'safe'.

The walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale are in Explore Grange-in-Borrowdale above, on one map and in a list you can filter by how you reach the start.

Places nearby: Lodore Falls · Rosthwaite · Borrowdale · Seatoller

Where to stay

Accommodation is the main reason people search for Grange, and it's mostly self-catering cottages — a good range, many of them dog-friendly, from simple to smart. For a hotel, the Borrowdale Gates is a country-house hotel on the edge of the village with well-regarded (2 AA-rosette) cooking; for camping, Hollows Farm is a working hill farm just outside the village with a seasonal campsite and glamping (open roughly Easter to October). It's a peaceful, scenic base — just book ahead, as there isn't much of it.

Food & drink

Eating options in the village itself are limited and have changed in recent years, so it pays to check ahead. The Borrowdale Gates Hotel is the reliable choice for a proper meal (dinner, and lighter lunches) — worth knowing that Grange was historically a Methodist "dry" village, and the hotel's licence is a relatively modern arrival. A tearoom by the bridge has long served walkers, but its provision has been intermittent of late — don't count on it without checking. For anything more, Keswick (four miles north) has the full range of pubs, cafés and shops; stock up there.

Getting there & parking

Without a car: The nearest stations as the crow flies are Windermere (25 km away) and Aspatria (26 km away); the 77A and 78 stop at Grange, at Bowder Stone, 0.7 km from here in a straight line. The 77A runs until 1 November 2026, the last day of its season. The bus map has every stop we hold.

Grange is about four miles south of Keswick on the B5289 Borrowdale road. There's no railway station (Keswick is the nearest town, Penrith the nearest railhead). Come car-free if you can: the open-top 78 Borrowdale bus runs from Keswick down the valley (daily, including holidays, in season), and in summer the Derwentwater launch lands nearby (Hawes End / High Brandelhow) for a walk in along the shore. If you must drive, leave the car in Keswick and take the bus or boat.

Parking, toilets and buses: Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale

Parking near Grange-in-Borrowdale

Quay Foot Quarry, Borrowdale (NT, paid) — 0.6 km from Grange-in-Borrowdale (straight line)

Old quarry car park below the Bowder Stone and Castle Crag; the National Trust and the LDNPA directory call it the Bowder Stone car park (read 5 October 2026). Free for NT members (checked August 2026). Charges apply at all times. Cash at machine; JustPark app at some car parks; card/phone payment not available in all car parks (NT, checked August 2026).

Directions

Pay & display National Trust about 60 spaces

Checked 2 August 2026

Something changed here?

Grange village car park (by the chapel) — 0.1 km from Grange-in-Borrowdale (straight line)

In Grange, beside the Methodist chapel near Grange Bridge. The 'Bowder Stone' route starts 677 m away. Fee not verified — check signage on arrival.

Directions

Checked 5 October 2026

Something changed here?

King's How (layby) — 0.4 km from Grange-in-Borrowdale (straight line)

The 'Bowder Stone' route starts 896 m away. Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions

Free

Checked 10 August 2026

Something changed here?

Castle Crag (layby) — 1.7 km from Grange-in-Borrowdale (straight line)

The 'Castle Crag, Brund Fell & Great Crag' route starts 957 m away, at Rosthwaite. Free (OSM-tagged). Unpaved surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions

Free

Checked 10 August 2026

Something changed here?

Cat Bells, south-east (layby) — 1.9 km from Grange-in-Borrowdale (straight line)

Nearest fells: Cat Bells (Catbells) (0.8 km), Skelgill Bank (1.4 km), Maiden Moor (1.6 km). Free (OSM-tagged). Ground surface (OSM-tagged).

Directions

Free about 10 spaces

Checked 10 August 2026

Something changed here?

All the car parks around Grange-in-Borrowdale on the parking map →

Straight-line distances from the centre of Grange-in-Borrowdale. 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?

Quay Foot Quarry, Borrowdale (NT, paid) — run by National Trust, which does not permit overnight parking. “We don't allow overnight parking due to the impact on nature and wildlife, staff resource and visitors.” (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 & nearby

The village is very dog-friendly, with riverside and fell walks from the door; facilities are minimal, so use Keswick for shops and amenities. Easy outings from Grange take in the Bowder Stone, Rosthwaite and Seatoller further up the valley, Watendlath (the tarn and packhorse bridge), Honister Pass and slate mine, and back down toward Keswick, Derwentwater and Portinscale.

Frequently asked questions about Grange-in-Borrowdale

Is Grange in Borrowdale?

Yes. Grange-in-Borrowdale is the village in the Borrowdale valley, about four miles south of Keswick, sitting on the River Derwent just below the foot of Derwentwater. (It's not to be confused with Grange-over-Sands, a town on Morecambe Bay in the south of the county.)

What is there to do in Grange-in-Borrowdale?

The big draws are the famous double bridge, climbing Castle Crag (the lowest Wainwright), paddling or swimming in the River Derwent, and walking up to the Bowder Stone nearby. It's a small village with a hotel, a campsite and cottages — perfect for a scenic day out or a quiet base, with Keswick close by for more.

What is the famous bridge at Grange?

It's a double-arched packhorse bridge over the River Derwent, built in 1675, linking the village to the B5289 Borrowdale road. Its twin humped arches make it a much-photographed bridge.

What are the best walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale?

The classic is Castle Crag — the lowest of the 214 Wainwrights, a short steep climb via old quarry caves with a huge view. Other favourites are the gentle Bowder Stone & River Derwent loop, King's How (Grange Fell), and riverside strolls; the high Borrowdale ridge (Maiden Moor, High Spy, Dale Head) rises above.

Where do you park at Grange-in-Borrowdale?

There's a small car park by the double bridge, and it fills early on fine days. The village is tiny with very limited roadside space, so come car-free if you can: the 78 Borrowdale bus from Keswick, or the Derwentwater launch in summer.

Can you swim in the river at Grange?

Yes — the River Derwent at Grange has shingle beaches and is a popular spot for paddling and wild swimming. Take the usual open-water care: cold water year-round, and the river rises fast and runs hard after heavy rain, so judge conditions and don't swim in spate.

How far is Grange from Keswick?

About four miles south, along the B5289 Borrowdale road — roughly 10–15 minutes by car, or a scenic ride on the open-top 78 Borrowdale bus from Keswick bus station.

Sources: Stagecoach 78 — the Borrowdale Bus (Keswick–Seatoller) (opens in new tab)

What is Castle Crag?

Castle Crag is a rocky little fell rising straight from Grange — at 290 m (951 ft) it's the lowest of all 214 Wainwrights, yet it gives a big view for the effort. The National Trust–owned top is reached by a short, steep climb past old slate-quarry caves; the popular loop from the village is around five miles.

What is the Bowder Stone?

The Bowder Stone is a famous giant balanced boulder in Borrowdale, a short walk or bus-hop up the valley from Grange, with steel steps to the top — a long-standing visitor curiosity and a favourite with children.

Is Grange-in-Borrowdale dog-friendly?

Very. Many of the holiday cottages are dog-friendly, and the riverside and fell walks suit dogs well. Keep them under close control around the valley's sheep and livestock, especially in spring.

Where can I stay in Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Mostly self-catering cottages (a good range, many dog-friendly). For a hotel there's the Borrowdale Gates, a country-house hotel on the edge of the village; for camping, Hollows Farm is a working hill farm with a seasonal campsite and glamping (roughly Easter to October). Book ahead — there isn't much of it.

Is there a café or pub in Grange?

There's no traditional village pub — Grange was historically a Methodist “dry” village, and the only licensed option is the Borrowdale Gates Hotel (meals and drinks). A tearoom by the bridge has long served walkers, but provision has been intermittent recently, so check before relying on it. For pubs, cafés and shops, Keswick is four miles north.

Is there a bus to Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Yes — the 78 Borrowdale bus (Stagecoach) runs from Keswick down the valley and stops at Grange; in season it's a scenic open-top service running daily, including public holidays. Check Stagecoach for live times, as rural Lakeland services change seasonally.

Sources: Stagecoach 78 — the Borrowdale Bus (opens in new tab)

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 Grange-in-Borrowdale — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.