Lake District

Stargazing walk at Friars Crag

Pick a clear night, leave the bright lights of Keswick behind and take a short stroll to a place free from light pollution, to see the stars spread out across the sky and reflected in the lake below. Perfect for families and astronomy novices, this easy walk will introduce you to one of the most scenic stargazing spots in the Lake District, Friars Crag. Don't forget binoculars and a torch.

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Total steps: 3

Start point

Lakeside car park, grid ref: NY265229

Step 1

From Lakeside car park walk down towards the Theatre by the Lake, which will be on your left as you pass it.

Owls in January and February

Listen out for the distinctive tu-whit-tu-whoo of the Tawny Owl, which is actually a duet between a male and female: she calls tu-whit, and he replies tu-whoo . Owls feed on small mammals, frogs, insects and birds and as top predators, are an important part of the local eco-system. Because of climate change we also now have a relatively new arrival in the Keswick area barn owls. They have been seen hunting on a regular basis in the field next to Friars crag.

Step 2

Continue on the road with the launch jetties and lake on your right until the tarmac road runs out.

Ruskin and Rawnsley

Use your torch to see if you can find the memorials to Canon Rawnsley or John Ruskin. Ruskin (1819-1900) claimed Friars Crag as the view that inspired his love of the natural world, and his books and paintings had a profound influence on the value that society placed on mountain landscape. He was one of the inspirations for Canon Rawnsley and the other founders of the National Trust. Rawnsley erected the monument to Ruskin, and Friars Crag was given to the nation in memory of Canon Rawnsley when he died.

The Ruskin Memorial on Friars Crag, Derwentwater — The Ruskin Memorial on Friars Crag | © National Trust/Joe Cornish

Step 3

Continue straight on, on an unsurfaced track to the bench end of Friars Crag. This is your stargazing spot. Lay a blanket on the bench and take in the views of the wide open sky reflected in the lake. Return the way you came.

Milky Way and North Star

Try and spot the Milky Way, a ribbon of millions of stars, threading its way across the night sky. The light you see from a twinkling star has travelled across the universe for millions of years to reach you; so when looking at a star, you are actually looking back in time. The North Star, also known as the Pole Star or Polaris, is a very bright star and is always fixed above the north point of the horizon. It has been used for over 2,000 years to help navigators at sea and on land find their way.

End point

Lakeside car park, grid ref: NY265229

Trail map

Map of summer stargazing walk at Friars Crag | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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near Keswick, Cumbria

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Stargazing walk at Friars Crag

Total steps: 3