Castlerigg Stone Circle and Tewet Tarn

Distance

3.5 miles

Time

2.5 hours

Starting point

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick

Parking

Free roadside parking at Castlerigg Stone Circle

some road walking, wear suitable footwear as the ground can be boggy in wet weather

Contact Keswick Tourism Association email info@keswick.org

1. 1

   From the roadside parking area walk down the road in the opposite direction to Keswick (East). Just after Keswick Climbing Wall turn right on a path signposted High Nest A591. Follow the grassy path alongside a wire fence. Go through a gate in a wall and head to another gate to walk alongside a small plantation. Go through another gate and along the farm drive. Just before a cattle grid go through a gate signposted A591. Continue along a grassy path and then through a gate. Turn right up the drive of Low Nest Farm to the road.

2. 2

   Turn left and walk along the grass verge for 50 metres. Turn left through a gate onto a public footpath leaving the noise of the busy main road behind. You are heading towards a gap in the fells ahead. Low Rigg is to the left and High Rigg to the right. Head down the path across the field. Continue down the next field. Go through a gate and follow the path. Immediately after crossing a concrete slab over a stream bear left to cross a narrow gated wooden bridge over a stream. Go forward and through a gate and head just to the right of the farm buildings ahead. Go over a stile and over a rocky outcrop to reach the lane above. (we have been informed as of July 2025 that the previous kissing gates have now been replaced by stiles)

3. 3

   Turn left and follow the lane is it winds its way up the hill. Continue past the Youth Centre and just after pause to take a look at the church. Opposite the church turn left over stone steps over a wall signposted Tewet Tarn and follow the path ahead. Go over a stone wall stile and keep ahead on the path. The path rises slightly then drops towards Tewet Tarn with the mighty bulk of Blencathra towering behind it. Go through a gate just before the tarn and then follow the path keeping to the right hand side of the tarn.

4. 4

   Go through a gate and keep ahead to a rocky outcrop. Follow the footpath sign and then head right alongside the wall. The path drops down through another field to a gate onto a metalled road. Turn left into the road and continue to a T-junction. Turn left and shortly left again signposted Castlerigg Stone Circle. Follow the road as it curves down. The road goes over a stream. just after turn left through a gate indicated by a public footpath sign. Follow the markers through gates up through successive fields heading towards white farm buildings. The path re-joins the road via a gate. Turn left and walk back up the lane to the start.