Rosthwaite

Where is Rosthwaite?

Rosthwaite near Keswick, in the Lake District. Zoom and pan to explore.

Why visit Rosthwaite? Is it a good base?

Rosthwaite's appeal is being central and well-served in the most scenic part of the valley. You're minutes from Grange, Stonethwaite and Seatoller, with easy low-level walks (the riverside to Grange, the Bowder Stone), a genuine Wainwright on the doorstep in Castle Crag, and bigger days up Rosthwaite Fell, Glaramara and the high ridge — yet you've a pub, a tea-room, beds and the bus on hand, which the smaller hamlets lack.

It's the best all-round base for Borrowdale, especially without a car. Just expect it to be busy on fine weekends, and very wet when the weather's in — this is one of the rainiest valleys in England.

Things to do

• The riverside walk to Grange — a flat, lovely stroll along the Derwent to the famous double bridge (see Walks).
• Castle Crag — the short, steep classic up the lowest Wainwright, with old quarry caves and a huge view.
• The Bowder Stone — the giant balanced boulder with its ladder, a short walk or bus-hop up the valley.
• The Flock-In tea-room — home baking at Yew Tree Farm, a working Herdwick farm — a Borrowdale institution after a walk.
• Watendlath — the hidden hamlet and tarn, reached on the old packhorse-bridge path over the fell.

Walks & fells from Rosthwaite

From gentle to grand:

• Easiest: the flat riverside path to Grange-in-Borrowdale and the Bowder Stone — both feature in our easy & family walks.
• Castle Crag — the lowest of the 214 Wainwrights, a short steep climb via the slate-quarry caves.
• Rosthwaite Fell / Bessyboot — yes, a Wainwright: his summit is Bessyboot (550 m), though the fell's true high point is the rockier Rosthwaite Cam (612 m) a little beyond. Plus Glaramara and Great Crag.
• The high ridge: 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 Rosthwaite

• Great Crag (Stonethwaite) 449 m · 1.1 km
• Castle Crag 290 m · 1.4 km
• Grange Fell (Brund Fell) 417 m · 1.5 km
• Rosthwaite Fell - Bessyboot 551 m · 2.4 km
• High Spy 653 m · 2.8 km
• Eagle Crag 523 m · 3.2 km

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

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

Where to stay

Rosthwaite has the best choice in the valley. The Royal Oak is the well-loved village pub with rooms — recently refurbished, family- and dog-friendly, with everything from classic doubles to budget bunk rooms; Hazel Bank Country House is a smarter option just above the village, with Nook Cottage and a number of B&Bs and self-catering cottages (many dog-friendly) around. Borrowdale YHA is nearby down the valley.

Note the Scafell Hotel, long a village landmark, closed in January 2024 and has since been sold to a Manchester investment company who intend to restore and reopen it — so it is not currently trading. Worth re-checking before you rely on it.

Food & drink

The Royal Oak is the hub for pub meals and a pint, and the Flock-In tea-room at Yew Tree Farm is the spot for home baking and a brew after a walk (it's a working Herdwick farm). Hazel Bank offers dinner too. There's a small village shop for basics, but for the full range head to Keswick. (The Scafell Hotel is closed — see above.)

Getting there & parking

Rosthwaite is about six and a half miles south of Keswick on the B5289 up Borrowdale. There's no railway station; the easiest car-free way is the 78 Borrowdale bus from Keswick (with the seasonal open-top 77/77A Honister Rambler), which stops in the village. If you drive, there's a National Trust car park in Rosthwaite — it's busy on fine days, so arrive early or take the bus.

Practical & nearby

It's excellent dog-walking country, with toilets and a small shop in the village. Easy outings from Rosthwaite take in Grange-in-Borrowdale (a mile down the river), Stonethwaite (half a mile), Seatoller and Honister, the Bowder Stone, Watendlath, and Keswick and Derwentwater down the valley.

Events & festivals

Planning a trip around a show or festival? See our Lake District events & festivals guide for what's on near Rosthwaite — traditional Lakeland sports, agricultural shows and seasonal events, month by month.