Walla Crag walk is a fairly low level trail, offering impeccable views over a great chunk of the Lake District. Here’s a complete guide.
How To Get To Walla Crag
Walla Crag is a 379m high fell (a barren landscape feature) located near the town of Keswick in the Lake District.
There are a two starting points for the popular Walla Crag walk, depending on how much time you have or how active a trekker you are.
Walla Crag Easy Route
2.8 miles – Roughly 1 hour 30 mins
The shorter, and most common, Walla Crag walk begins at the Great Wood National Trust carpark, on the Borrowdale road a couple of miles south of Keswick.
It’s a full circle trail, meaning you start the Walla Crag walk in one direction and come back round returning from the opposite. Please see map below for details.
However, if you’re just visiting for the views and want to avoid the majority of the trek, you can turn right out of Great Wood car park and double back on yourself once you’ve reached Walla Crag summit.
We stayed at Castlerigg Hall, which was just a short 25 min walk from the Walla Crag summit.
This was a really enjoyable walk because we were able to take a slow stroll and enjoy the wonderful surroundings.
Walla Crag From Keswick
6.2 miles – Roughly 2 hour 30 mins
The longer version of the Walla Crag walk begins at the Market Square in Keswick town.
If you climb Walla Crag from Keswick, this route pretty much doubles the distance.
It takes you through the towns of Briery and Castlerigg, heads up and over Walla Crag, and then down to Ashness Bridge before returning to Keswick via the lakeshore.
For those short on time, or that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
Walla Crag Walk Entrance Fee & Parking
The Walla Crag Walk is free.
The only thing you will have to pay for is parking.
If you’re starting your Walla Crag walk from Great Wood National Trust carpark the options are:
£4.50 up to 2 hours
£6.50 up to 4 hours
£7.50 all day
If you’re starting your Walla Crag walk from Keswick, there are plenty of pay and display carparks throughout the town.
Walla Crag Walk Opening Times
Walla Crag is a public trail so it’s accessible 24/7.
However we don’t recommend visiting outside of sunlight hours, for your own safety.
Unless you’re a professional with all the correct night trekking gear.
Best Time To Visit + Tips
The best time to visit Walla Crag is sunrise because of the impeccable views and silence.
Sunset would be amazing too, however the rush to get down before dark could be tough depending on the time of the year.
If you’re a pro hiker, you could always take head torches to be safe.
On your Walla Crag walk, be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks.
You might need an energy boost at some point during your walk.
We had a little picnic at the top and saw other families doing the same. Time flies during your walk, so having supplies is always a good idea.
Whilst in the area, if you’re looking for an epic hidden gem near Keswick check out Thirlmere Infinity Pool.
What To Pack:
What To Expect On Your Walla Crag Walk
Walla Crag is a ‘fell’ in the English Lake District, near Keswick.
A fell is a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or moor-covered hill.
Although the Walla Crag walk is varied throughout with a few steep climbs, it is doable for most able bodied people.
It can be slippery in parts, especially if it has been raining, so sensible shoes are a must.
This is a fairly low level walk compared to others in the Lake District.
However considering this, it still offers outstanding views of Derwent Water, as well as panoramas over Bassenthwaite Lake in the North and the jaws of Borrowdale in the South too.
Families do the Walla Crag Walk all the time, so it’s certainly achievable for children.
Dogs are welcome on the trail too. However, you will pass lots of sheep on the way up so be careful not to disturb them.
The summit of Walla Crag is a large flat space, so there’s plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the view at once.
When we visited in October, it wasn’t busy at all so our time spend up there was pretty peaceful.
We perched ourselves on a rock with our picnic and enjoyed the stunning views.
Overall, we would highly recommend saving a morning or afternoon for the Walla Crag Walk, if you’re in the area.
Where To Stay In The Lake District
Luxury – Lakes Hotel & Spa
This luxurious hotel is perfectly situated with views of Lake Windermere, a short stroll from the village of Bowness-on-Windermere.
The hotel can arrange collection from Windemere station which is just 10 minutes away.
Lakes Hotel & Spa has some of the best on-site facilities in the area, half of the rooms with hot tubs on private balconies. There’s also an on-site spa, a stylish restaurant and a cocktail bar. As well as bike hire, wakesurfing and paddleboading.
There are many walks that you can take straight from the hotel gates, and there are even boats that travel the length of Windermere, making it easy to visit surrounding areas.
Mid-Budget – The George Hotel by Best Western
This traditional hotel stands in the very centre of the bustling market town of Penrith.
Free parking and free Wi-Fi is available at the property. Meals are available to enjoy in the intimate, candlelit Devonshire restaurant which boasts a beautiful open fire.
The wood panelling and old local wall prints combine to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where many generations of loyal visitors have returned time after time.
Budget – Albany House
Located in Penrith, Albany House offers bed-and-breakfast accommodation with free WiFi access throughout.
Guests benefit from free public parking facilities near the accommodation. The property also boasts a 4 gold-star rating from the AA, along with breakfast awards.
Rooms at Albany House B&B come with a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities and either an en-suite or external bathroom.
Breakfast is available between 8:00 and 9:00 every morning in the common breakfast room.
For more places to stay in the Lake District, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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