The Old Keswick Railway Line and Latrigg
Important note: On the 6th December 2015 a number of the railway bridges were washed away by Storm Desmond, which left the original route impassable. However we updated this walk with the diversion through Brundholme Woods.
As of December 2020 the bridges have now been restored plus, on step 1, just after going under the A66 you can use the newly re-opened tunnel rather than following the walkway. We will be re-surveying this walk as soon as we can but it is still walkable on the route described here.
A lovely walk from Keswick along part of the old Cockermouth, Keswick, and Penrith Railway trackbed and up onto Latrigg which stands over Keswick.
This part of the railway path crosses the river a number of times on the original rail bridges and includes a short section of elevated wooden walkway which bypasses where the line used to go through a tunnel. Some of the railway paraphernalia still lays around if you look about. And if you wish there are a number of points you can drop down to the river for an explore. Up on Latrigg the views down to Keswick, Derwent Water, and to the surrounding mountains are stunning.
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Paul and Beth
Latrigg from Keswick
NCN Milepost on Keswick Railway Path
Keswick Railway Path Bridge
This walk takes you to the top of the following hills: Latrigg; and includes 1 Wainwright and 1 Birkett.
If you need accommodation we have details of 120 properties offering rooms near the start of this walk. Here are some examples:
Sykes Cottages Assessed Cottage
£390-2043 per week0.5km (0.3 miles) away, sleeps 4
Sykes Cottages Assessed Cottage£617-2402 per week0.7km (0.5 miles) away, sleeps 4
Sykes Cottages Assessed Cottage£379-1963 per week0.7km (0.4 miles) away, sleeps 4
50K: 
- 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:
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Walk height profile
note that gradients are usually grossly exaggerated
Route Description
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.
The track weaves its way through the northern suburbs, and under the A66 where shortly after a wooden walkway hugs the crags before returning to the old trackbed. Cross the river Greta once, in 130m (143 yards) just before the next bridge bear left onto the diversion path which is well signed.
This initially drops down, crosses a little flat ground then climbs steeply up amongst trees. Turn right onto the narrower path, marked with a post beside the junction. There follows a pleasant meander to join a somewhat raw bulldozed track. Bear left at the junction to zigzag up to the Brundholme minor road. Turn right onto the road to continue climbing. In about 400m (440 yards) turn sharp left through the gateway onto the eastern end of the ridge to Latrigg.
Keswick Railway Station
Keswick Railway walkway
Keswick Railway Path Bridge
Keswick Railway Path - start of the diversion
Keswick Railway Path - end of diversion
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
Keswick and Derwent Water
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 Limited Mobility Path
Take the left fork
Gale Ghyll Woods on Latrigg
Spoonygreen Lane, Keswick
If you like this walk then why not try one of our other nearby walks:
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