Walla Crag - the best views

Time taken approximately 2 hours
Difficulty of walk (1-10) 3

One of my most favourite views in the Lakes has to be the view from Walla Crag near Keswick.

The views from the top look over Keswick, Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater, but also gives a fantastic view of the Skiddaw hills to the north and the North Western Wainwrights to the west.

This walk can be a relatively short walk or a longer walk depending on your route of choice.

Having now done this walk several times, the starting point I always use is Great Wood car park just off the Keswick to Borrowdale road. This is a National Trust car park and if I remember the fee if you're not a member is around £5.

Whichever way you decide to go then leave the car park from the path at the southern end (to the right as you face the crags). Walk out on that path

If you're looking for a relatively short walk with a view then turn left at the first signposted junction of paths you meet. You'll immediately start walking uphill, walking through the woods up towards Castlerigg Farm. When you meet the road then turn right until you come to a narrow raised footbridge and then onto Walla Crag from there, returning the same way.

But if you've a bit more time then continue on at the first signposted junction, walking south along the line of the fell (and adjacent to Derwentwater) on narrow winding path to Ashness Bridge - as shown. This path can be a little rocky and uneven in places and possibly a little wet so pick your steps.

At Ashness Bridge, then turn briefly directly up the fell before turning back north up the fell (again roughly adjacent to the lake) through a wicket gate and onwards towards Walla Crag. This is a gentler climb along a longer walk but gives great views of Derwentwater and the iconic Ashness Bridge. 　

There are a few options to take this walk even further if you want.
You can continue from Ashness Bridge to Surprise View and on to Watendlath Tarn and the café there, but I'll cover this in another walk at a later date.
The photos below are from Surprise View.

The photo below is the beautifully remote looking Watendlath valley.

An alternative option to extend the walk, could be to take in Castlerigg stone circle after the Walla Crag summit.

The rise up to Walla Crag hides the view you are about to experience, its always fun to see the faces of walking companions on their first visit there, as the view comes into sight. It's a great place to have lunch on a warm day and look around the other fells wondering what's next on your agenda to tackle.

Personally, like most views in the Lakes, I think they look best on a sharp sunny day. The lakes look bluer and more vivid, the sun reflects all sorts of colours off the fells too.
A little tip for the new walker, over my brief time walking I've learnt to really watch the weather forecast and choose clear sunny days, preferably with a clear day either side, for the best walking experiences.  However everyone is different and I know walkers who prefer tough conditions, so its very much a personal thing.

Coming off Walla Crag, take a north east direction, over a stile and back onto the main fell. The ground starts to fall away in stages on a well worn path, next to the wall. Eventually you come off the fell, through a wicket gate and down to the narrow raised bridge (mentioned above) beside the farm.
Turn left and follow the road. It isn't long down this road that you come to another wicket on your left where the path turns back on you and over a little footbridge. If you get to the campsite, you've gone too far.

Follow the path by the stream down until it comes out of the trees and there's a path signposted to your left and back into the woods. Follow that path bearing right in the trees at a junction and follow down to the car park again.

A beautiful circular walk, with great views. Both the crags (Walla Crag) and Derwentwater are your markers for maintaining your sense of direction on this walk.