Borger Dalr geology walk
Explore the origins of Borrowdale as you walk from Bowder Stone car park to Castle Crag, including the poignant war memorial Peace Howe, and amazing views of the flat valley bed that was formerly the bottom of an Ice Age lake.
Near to
Borrowdale and Derwent WaterStart point
Bowder Stone National Trust car park, grid ref: NY253168Trail information
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Bowder Stone National Trust car park, grid ref: NY253168
Stage 1
From the second tier of the car park, head along a short path towards a small wooden gate (leaving the car park at the opposite end to the entrance heading North) . Go through the gate and follow a track across a small stream (may not be flowing in a dry spell). Walk past a large boulder on your right to an old quarry. From here the path skirts a low-lying boggy area to join another path. Turn left here and follow the path going gently downhill, keeping the boggy area to you left. Ighoring paths to the left after the boggy area, descent through a rocky outcrop through some trees to a small wooden gate leading onto the Borrowdale road B5289. Note the location of this gate (marked Bridleway) for your return journey in step 10. Carefully cross the road and turn right to follow it the short distance to Grange Bridge. Follow the road across the bridge and through the village of Grange, the site of a medieval monastic farm belonging to Furness Abbey. Continue along the road for about 440 yards (400m) until you almost reach the Borrowdale Gates Hotel.
Stage 2
At the public footpath post, go through the gate on the left, follow the path to a high point, then leave it to climb the knoll on the right, Peace Howe. There is a stone bench here, from where you can pause and take in the view back towards Derwent Water. Now walk down to the gate at the edge of the wood. Passing through, take the clear track to the left going gently down to the left towards Hollows Farm. On the west side of the valley above the farm you might be able to spot the good contrast between the smooth Skiddaw slates (around 480 million years old) and the gnarly Borrowdale volcanic rocks formed when this area went through violent volcanic eruptions 450 million years ago.
Stage 3
Pass through the yard at Hollows Farm. After approximately 220 yards (200m) take the track to the right. Ahead, across the camping field, is the craggy wooded knoll of Holmcrag Wood. It has crags at its left end and a more gentle profile to the right. This piece of solid rock was sculpted by glaciers moving down the valley some 8,000 years ago. It is known as a roche moutonnée, French for 'rock sheep' and you will see lots of these, large and small, throughout the walk. Continue on the main path down to the River Derwent.
Stage 4
Just before the first large beck, fork right and cross it via the wooden footbridge. Follow the path ahead that ascends to Dalt Quarry.
Dalt quarry near Grange in Borrowdale | © National Trust Images/John Malley Stage 5
With your back to the quarry, take the smaller path uphill to the right. After a short descent, this joins the main track alongside Broadside Gill near a small bridge. Join the main track, shortly leaving the wood and ascending by the stream on your left.
Stage 6
Continue uphill, passing by an old sheepfold and crossing the stream under the crags and spoil heaps of Castle Crag on the left. Soon, a smaller but still clear path branches to the left. Take a breather and a moment to listen to your surroundings. Now follow the path steeply uphill towards the wall, cross the stone stile in the wall and continue uphill past a bench and memorial plaque on your right, until reaching a small gate above stone steps. Go through the gate and follow the fence on your right until your reach a ladder stile over the wall in front. DO NOT cross the stile, but turn uphill to your left where, after a short distance, there is another ladder stile to your right over the same wall. If time, weather and inclination permit, the short steep climb from here to the summit of Castle Crag is recommended, where a great view over Derwent Water and the Skiddaw massif awaits. Note the smooth outline of Skiddaw? This is due to it being made up of sedimentary rocks, making it unique as the only Lake District 900m summit to be composed of this type of stone, the others being made of harder volcanic rocks. But if time is pressing skip the next description and go to step 7. To climb Castle Crag, ascend steeply and go up the spoil heaps on a zig-zag path that is not as hard as it looks, whilst taking care not to dislodge loose stones onto any walkers below you. Go to the right of the large quarry and climb to the top of Castle Crag. After enjoying the view retrace your steps back to the top ladder stile.
Stage 7
Climb the stile and follow a grassy track downhill to the left. Continue downhill until you approach a stone-built footpath, passing through a gap in the wall (where the gate has been removed). Follow the narrow track through the woods and you will again find a stone-built path leading you down amongst the mature oaks towards the valley floor and a gate in the fence.
Stage 8
Go through the gate and turn left onto a well-defined track towards another set of gates immediately ahead. Go through the gates and continue along the path through the woods, passing through an area of quarry workings (if you wish to visit Millican Dalton's cave, take the narrow path to your left). Follow the main path until the river is reached once more, and you are back to the footbridges and the track to Dalt Quarry.
Stage 9
From the river retrace the earlier route to the access lane to Hollows Farm. Turn right and follow the road back to Grange village.
Stage 10
From Grange village, retrace your outward route back over the bridge. Turn right onto the road and look out for the little wooden gate marked "Bridleway" on the left hand side next to the house. This will lead you back onto the quiet paths. Reverse the directions in step 1 to return to the car park.
Visitors descending the steel steps from the Bowder Stone | © National Trust Images / Arnhel de Serra End point
Bowder Stone National Trust car park, grid ref: NY253168
Trail map
A map of the Borger Dalr geology walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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