Seatoller National Trust car park Borrowdale

Visitors in the car park at Seatoller — Could you take the bus to Seatoller instead of driving?

Seatoller is our biggest car park, nestled at the end of Borrowdale before the road climbs up the Honister Pass. It has toilets and a bus stop, it's where the 78 bus service from Keswick turns round to begin its return journey.

How to get here

Postcode: CA12 5XN (please note that in rural locations post codes often cover a wide area - so don't believe the SatNav, look for the signs!)
Grid ref: NY245137
Find us on Google Maps

The car park is on the right hand side off the B5289 in the hamlet of Seatoller situated 7 miles south of Keswick at the southern end of the Borrowdale Valley.

Please note the toilets are often closed during the winter season.

How much does it cost to park?

National Trust members can scan to park for free, but if you’re not a member don't forget some change as due to our rural location there is very limited mobile signal which means we can't take card or phone payment at all our car parks. Every penny directly funds our work in the valley to care for wildlife, walls, paths, cottages and farms.

Choose from a ramble or a pack horse route

The most popular route from here is the short climb onto the Allerdale Ramble - the old road to Honister - which leads you to Castle Crag, returning beside the river Derwent via Rosthwaite. Or take an invigorating walk into the heart of the Lake District hills on an ancient pack horse route on the Sty Head and Grains Gill walk.

Access Statements for Borrowdale

Need more information to help you decide if a car park's the right place to start your day out?

Cairn on Castle Crag overlooking Upper Borrowdale, Cumbria. — Can you climb into the Jaws of Borrowdale by conquering Castle Crag?

Walking trail

Castle Crag from Seatoller downloadable walk

Enjoy a moderate walk with amazing views to an iron-age hill fort that was dedicated as a war memorial after the First World War

Download the walking trail

Sourmilk Ghyll in spate, Seathwaite, Cumbria — Sourmilk Gill in spate

Walking trail

Seatoller to Sty Head Tarn and Grains Gill walk

This invigorating walk takes you into the heart of the Lake District hills on an ancient pack horse route with stunning mountain views.

Get your walking boots on

Meet some very old friends of William Wordsworth

Not far from Seatoller, on route to Seathwaite, you can visit Wordsworth’s famous Borrowdale Yews. They are thought to be in excess of 1500 years old. Our forestry ranger Maurice, explains more in this blog.

An ancient Yew in Borrowdale, Lake District — One of Wordsworth's 'fraternal four'

Maurice and the trees of Borrowdale

A blog post about a soggy day meeting ancient trees in Borrowdale with Woodlands Ranger Maurice Pankhurst

Find the Borrowdale Yews

Park up and boost conservation work in Borrowdale

Whether you are a member who scans your card (we get £1 from central funds every time you do) or a non-member who pays for a ticket, every penny you generate in this car park goes to help us take care of this special place, so thank you.

Read about how our footpath team have been protecting a popular route at Castle Crag.

upland path rangers rebuilding retaining walls on Castle Crag — Looking after the war memorial mountain during 2018

Borrowdale and Derwent Water Cumbria

Looking after war memorial mountain Castle Crag in 2018

Commemorating the Lake District fells given as war memorials during 2018 doesn't just involve acts of remembrance, it also involves acts of conservation

How we're looking after the Great Gift for future generations