Walla Crag — Local services in Borrowdale

I liked this scenic walk - you can find a map with instructions online, or in the AA "50 Walks In The Lake District " book. I used that. Start from the car park (Long Stay) at the lakeside theatre car park. Go through Cockshot wood and cross the road and follow the path up passing Castle Head viewpoint. (photo 2) Turn right when reaching Springs road and pass Springs farm, keeping more or less straight on through Springs wood with Springs beck on your left. Pass the radio mast and ignore a path branching off to the right. Keep on ascending till you reach the Castlerigg road near Rakefoot. (see photo 1 showing the crag ahead). Turn right here and ascend onto the open fellside. There are views behind to Skiddaw with Keswick nestled underneath - see the photo). Be aware that the narrow path (further on near the top) to reach the open summit point can be rocky, uneven and narrow - care is needed. The views from the crag (photo 6) are well worth the steady long trek up the open part of the fell from Rakefoot to the summit point. Be aware that if done clockwise as recommended, the descent down the gully to Calfclose bay is very steep and narrow. (see the 4th photo - that might need rotating 90 degrees). After crossing the B5289 Borrowdale road at the bottom of this descent, take the left hand path at the junction (signed "to the Lake") for the more scenic shore path (photo 7) back to the start, or alternatively follow the sign for "To Keswick" for a shorter but less attractive route...

This is a fairly quick and straight forward hike up to Walla Crag, up and down took approximately two hours. You can walk here from Keswick town easily. There are two sign posted routes at the base, round and gradual and straight up. Both have steep inclines at points to get the heart racing. At the top you are surrounded by an incredible panoramic view of the neighbouring crags, Derwent water lake, Catbells and Skiddaw. From here you can either head back down or follow a trail to the next points from Bleaberry Fell...

What a beautiful place. We were here, in Keswick, early August 2023. Walla Crag is a very do-able walk but we would recommend tackling it by walking along the lake first (lake on your RHS), if doing the short/simple circular route. It means you take the rocky steps up first and it's an easier walk then on the way down, on the other side. You still benefit from the spectacular views. We saw many parents with younger kids when we were there. If we had kids with us we would definitely have taken the route we chose, for...