The Old Keswick Railway Line and Latrigg

Now fully restored following the flooding during Storm Desmond in 2015, the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail provides a pleasant way for us to access the easy gradient of Latrigg's eastern ridge.

This part of the railway path crosses the river a number of times on some original rail bridges, plus another that had to be replaced. Some other original railway paraphernalia still lays around if you look about. The tunnel which was filled in when the A66 bridge was built has been cleared out and used for the trail.

Up on Latrigg the views down to Keswick, Derwent Water, and to the surrounding mountains are stunning.

You can purchase this walk in Adobe/PDF format, suitable for printing or storing on your mobile device, by clicking on the link on the walk page.

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WalkLakes

**

The Old Keswick Railway Line and Latrigg

Now fully restored following the flooding during Storm Desmond in 2015, the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail provides a pleasant way for us to access the easy gradient of Latrigg's eastern ridge.

This part of the railway path crosses the river a number of times on some original rail bridges, plus another that had to be replaced. Some other original railway paraphernalia still lays around if you look about. The tunnel which was filled in when the A66 bridge was built has been cleared out and used for the trail.

Up on Latrigg the views down to Keswick, Derwent Water, and to the surrounding mountains are stunning.

The work we do on this web site, both researching and writing up walks, takes a lot of our time but doesn't make us a great deal of money. The main way we fund this work is by selling our walks as PDFs for printing. Please use the "Buy walk in Adobe/PDF format to print or for your phone or tablet" link on the walk page to do that.

If you have already purchased the walk then you if you are logged in you can find it in your rucksack (link top right on any page) in a format suitable for printing.

Thank you for your support

Paul and Beth

Latrigg from Keswick
Latrigg from Keswick
NCN Milepost on Keswick Railway Path
NCN Milepost on Keswick Railway Path
One of the original Keswick Railway Path Bridges
One of the original Keswick Railway Path Bridges

This walk takes you to the top of the following hills: Latrigg; and includes 1 Wainwright and 1 Birkett.

Maps:
50K: 89, 90     25K: OL4
Start:
NY270238   (get directions via Google Maps)
Near to:
Keswick
Tags:
Birketts, circular, Wainwrights
Distance:
9.5km (5.9 miles)
Ascent:
344m
Min. time:
2 hrs 29 mins
View in 3-D:
Terrain:
1 - easy
Bog Factor:
1 - none
Tech Diff:
1 - easy
Some slightly slippery grass slopes, descent into Keswick on bridleway can get a bit muddy.
Dog issues:
Lots of sheep on Latrigg, and descending the bridleway you may encounter hens!

Purchases:
Buy walk in Adobe/PDF format to print or for your phone or tablet

Buy route for your GPS

Buy Outdoor Leisure OL4 - 'The English Lakes - North Western area' from Amazon Buy Landranger 89 - 'West Cumbria, Cockermouth & Wast Water' from Amazon Buy Landranger 90 - 'Penrith & Keswick, Ambleside' from Amazon

Walk height profile
path profile
note that gradients are usually grossly exaggerated


Route Description


1

From the car park at the front of the old Keswick station, beside the leisure centre and swimming pool, face the station buildings and turn left.

This tarmac track weaves its way through the north eastern suburbs before reaching the tunnel under the A66. Go through the tunnel to then cross three bridges over the River Greta.

Just before the fourth, at the information boards and small open building, turn left through the gate and cross the field to another gate onto the minor Brundholme road. Turn left again and continue up the road.

Near the end of the public road go round to the left and then go through the gateway on the right.

Keep right on the track onto the end of the eastern ridge of Latrigg.


Keswick Railway Station
Keswick Railway Station
Start of the Keswick to Thelkeld Railway Trail
Start of the Keswick to Thelkeld Railway Trail
Keswick Railway Path Bridge
Keswick Railway Path Bridge
Inside the tunnel - Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail
Inside the tunnel - Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail

2

Follow the track ahead then soon turning left onto Latrigg's eastern ridge. Go through an open gateway along side some woodland, and then shortly after as the track bears gently right, you need to bear left to remain on the ridgeline.

Follow the well spread out 'path' around the edge, through the gate, and onto the gravel path to the summit area.


Latrigg ridge from Brundholme
Latrigg ridge from Brundholme
Keswick and Derwent Water
Keswick and Derwent Water

3

Continue on the gravel "Limited Mobility" path to the viewpoint overlooking Keswick and Derwent Water.

Descend Latrigg by carrying on along the path to the sign post in a small gully. Take the left fork onto the wide track to join the bridleway on the edge of Gale Ghyll Woods where you turn left heading for Keswick. When the track forks left into the woods keep right to remain on the bridleway. At the bottom of the hill there are signs warning of "Hens in lane". Cross the A66 over the bridge, and at the end of the lane turn left.

The road narrows but has an off road footpath alongside, bear right and continue down to the roundabout. Go straight over to the car park and back to the start.


Latrigg Viewpoint
Latrigg Viewpoint
Latrigg Limited Mobility Path
Latrigg Limited Mobility Path
Take the left fork
Take the left fork
Gale Ghyll Woods on Latrigg
Gale Ghyll Woods on Latrigg
Spoonygreen Lane, Keswick
Spoonygreen Lane, Keswick

A walk by Elizabeth Oldham
Inevitably things change on the ground so if you think this walk needs updating please let us know

If you like this walk then why not try one of our other nearby walks:

NameRatingStarts
Castlehead Viewpoint from the Moot Hall, Keswick*0.5km (0.3 miles) away
The National Trust Centenary Stone from Keswick*0.5km (0.3 miles) away
Cumbria Way - Keswick to Caldbeck*****0.5km (0.3 miles) away
A short walk to Friar's Crag from the Moot Hall, Keswick*0.5km (0.3 miles) away
Around Derwent Water**0.5km (0.3 miles) away
Skiddaw Shepherd's Memorial*1.9km (1.2 miles) away
Misty Skiddaw***1.9km (1.2 miles) away
A longer walk over Bakestall and Skiddaw****1.9km (1.2 miles) away
Lonscale Fell via Burnt Horse Ridge***1.9km (1.2 miles) away
Latrigg: a short stroll*1.9km (1.2 miles) away
Castlerigg Stone Circle*2.1km (1.3 miles) away
Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell from Great Wood***2.3km (1.4 miles) away
Walla Crag and the Great Wood**2.4km (1.5 miles) away
Catbells**3.6km (2.2 miles) away
Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy - A Half Newlands****3.6km (2.2 miles) away
Catbells and the Newlands valley**3.7km (2.3 miles) away
To Force Crag Mine - a Coledale Low Round**3.9km (2.4 miles) away
A Shorter Coledale Round****3.9km (2.4 miles) away
The Coledale Horseshoe*****4.1km (2.5 miles) away
A Short Walk From Ashness Bridge to High Seat**4.2km (2.6 miles) away
Causey Pike and Scar Crag***4.3km (2.6 miles) away
Force Crag Mine*4.3km (2.7 miles) away
Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head****4.3km (2.7 miles) away
A Short Stroll to Lodore Falls*4.3km (2.7 miles) away
Whinlatter Forest - Heavy Sides Walk*4.8km (2.9 miles) away
Words In The Woods*4.8km (2.9 miles) away

Unless otherwise stated the text in this walk is the copyright of Hug Solutions Ltd trading as The Hug and the photographs are the copyright of Elizabeth Oldham. Hill data is derived from Database of British and Irish hills which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Maps contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 and paths © OpenStreetMap Contributors,CC-BY-SA, 2011

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