Stonethwaite

Why visit Stonethwaite?

Stonethwaite is about peace, scenery and walking. It sits at the mouth of the Langstrath — one of the great quiet valleys of the Lakes, a long, wild glen that draws you deep into the hills — and it's a natural overnight on Wainwright's Coast to Coast, which climbs out over Greenup Edge towards Grasmere. Add Galleny Force, the rugged fells crowding the skyline, and the genuine away-from-it-all calm, and it rewards anyone after the quieter side of Borrowdale.

It's tiny, though: an inn, a campsite, a few beds and no shop. Come for the walking and the quiet; use Rosthwaite or Keswick for the rest.

Things to do

• Galleny Force ("the Fairy Glen") — a lovely set of low waterfalls and pools on the beck, a popular wild-swimming and paddling spot. It's unsignposted and the water is cold and can rise fast after rain — take real care, especially with children.
• The Langstrath valley — a beautiful, gentle walk up the quiet glen behind the hamlet, as far as you fancy.
• The Langstrath Inn — the hamlet's pub and the social heart of a walking day.
• The Coast to Coast — Stonethwaite is a classic stage; even a short way up Greenup gives a sense of the route.

Walks & fells from Stonethwaite

The walking is rugged and rewarding:

• Eagle Crag and neighbouring Sergeant's Crag — the bold crags guarding the head of the valley; a fine, steep little round.
• Great Crag and Dock Tarn — a lovely walk over to the hidden tarn, with the option to carry on to Watendlath.
• Glaramara, Rosthwaite Fell / Bessyboot and Ullscarf — the bigger fells ringing the valley.
• The Langstrath valley walk and the Coast to Coast over Greenup Edge toward Grasmere.

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

Where to stay

The hamlet has an inn, a campsite and a few rooms. The Langstrath Country Inn has comfortable rooms as well as its bar and restaurant; there's bed-and-breakfast at farms such as Yew Tree Farmhouse, and Borrowdale cottages nearby.

Stonethwaite Farm & Campsite is the well-known riverside campsite — and worth knowing the recent history: it was closed for a spell (under previous arrangements, after problems with safety and the environment), and has reopened under new management for the 2026 season (bookings roughly late March to late September), with new rules (no guests' own fire pits; rentable campfire bundles instead). It changes from year to year, so check the official Stonethwaite Farm & Campsite site before you travel; the long-established Chapel House Farm Campsite nearby is a good alternative.

Food & drink

The Langstrath Country Inn is the hamlet's pub — meals, real ale and rooms, and the obvious place for an end-of-walk pint or dinner (check opening before a special trip). There's no shop in Stonethwaite, so stock up in Rosthwaite (half a mile away) or Keswick.

Getting there & parking

Without a car: The nearest stations as the crow flies are Windermere (21 km away) and Ravenglass (24 km away); the 78 and the 77 stop at Rosthwaite, opposite Longthwaite road end, 1.2 km from here. The bus map has every stop we hold.

Stonethwaite lies off the B5289, up a short no-through lane signed from Rosthwaite, about seven miles south of Keswick. There's no railway station. Parking in the hamlet is very limited, so it's best to use the car park at Rosthwaite and walk the half-mile in, or take the 78 Borrowdale bus from Keswick — it stops on the main road by the Stonethwaite turn, leaving a short, level walk to the hamlet.

Practical & nearby

It's fine dog-walking country; facilities are minimal (no shop). Easy outings from Stonethwaite take in Rosthwaite (half a mile), Seatoller and Grange-in-Borrowdale, the Bowder Stone, Watendlath over the fell, and Keswick and Derwentwater down the valley.