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.

Village

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 — one of the most photographed bridges in the Lakes.

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?

Just 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 a ladder 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.

Getting there, parking, where to stay and the fells you can walk straight from Grange-in-Borrowdale.

Home › Places › 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 one of the most photographed corners 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

Where is Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Grange-in-Borrowdale near Keswick, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore.

Why visit Grange-in-Borrowdale?

Grange packs an astonishing amount of the Lake District's best into a tiny space. You've got an iconic 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 wrapped in what many people reckon is the loveliest valley in the Lakes.

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 a ladder to the top (a guaranteed hit with kids).
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 a genuine easy & family walk in spirit (short, with big rewards), though 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.

Check the live "Best Fells today" conditions before you set off. The Fells & walks nearby box below lists the closest summits with a full guide.

Fells & walks near Grange-in-Borrowdale

Castle Crag 290 m · 1.6 km
Grange Fell (Brund Fell) 417 m · 1.7 km
Maiden Moor 575 m · 1.8 km
High Spy 653 m · 2.2 km
Cat Bells (Catbells) 451 m · 2.6 km
Great Crag (Stonethwaite) 449 m · 3.3 km

Straight-line distances from the centre of Grange-in-Borrowdale — the nearest summits with a full guide on this site.

All walks from Grange-in-Borrowdale → — every route and fell within about 5 km, ranked, with today’s conditions.

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

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). The best way to arrive is car-free: 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, there's only a small car park by the double bridge — it's very limited and fills early, so arrive first thing or, better, leave the car in Keswick and take the bus or 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.

Events & festivals

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.

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 one of the most photographed bridges in the Lake District.

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 only 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 the best approach is car-free: 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 one of the best views-for-effort in the Lakes. 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 a ladder 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)

📚 Maps & guidebooks for Grange-in-Borrowdale

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