Seatoller National Trust car park Borrowdale

Visitors in the car park at Seatoller

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 now open at weekends only during the winter and may be closed if there is a risk of freezing.

Car parking charges for Borrowdale

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. 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.

Explore with a MPV

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.
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
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

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
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