Barrow and Stile End, Braithwaite

If you are new to fell walking then this walk up Barrow Fell and Stile End fell is a great one to start with. The ascent is fairly easy for those with only a moderate level of fitness, and the route is very simple to navigate. At the summits of the two peaks you are rewarded with 360 degree views of the north-western Lake District, with Derwent Water, Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Keswick, and the Newlands Valley all visible. Dogs must begin the walk on a lead, but once you have passed through the farmland, they may roam freely.

The walk starts and ends in the village of Braithwaite, close to Keswick, and is easily accessible from the A66. Parking can be difficult to find there, so do try and arrive early during the peak tourist season. In the village you will find pubs, two of which are dog friendly, a village shop selling hot and cold snacks with limited seating, and public toilets.

The Start of the Walk – Leaving Braithwaite

Braithwaite is clearly signposted from the A66 between Keswick and Bassenthwaite. There is no village car park, but parking is available on the village streets. Please be courteous to homeowners when parking. During school holidays and weekends, you can park at the school. To get to the start of the walk head to the village shop by following the signs for both the shop and for “Newlands”. The shop sits in the corner of a junction and you need to take the road that leads to the left of the shop as you face it, again signposted for Newlands and Buttermere.

Braithwaite Lodge

A few metres beyond the shop on the right-hand side there is a turning, signposted for Braithwaite Lodge. You will need to take this turning. There is a cattlegrid, but a gate on the right allows pedestrians to cross over freely. A signpost denotes the road as a public footpath. Dogs will need to remain on the lead at this point. You will then arrive at Braithwaite Lodge, and a slate sign affixed to a tree points you to the gate to the right. Go through here, passing the farm buildings and you will come to a boundary wall with a public footpath sign with four different paths to take. Take the one through the gate that is straight ahead, signposted for Newlands.

Ascending Barrow Fell

After you have gone through the gate, follow the farm track straight on towards the other side of the field, keeping any dogs on a lead. At the other end of the field there is a gate, go through here and turn left to follow the path that leads up the ridge of Barrow. The path is wide and grassy here, and the ascent is fairly gentle. Dogs may be let off their lead here, providing that they have good recall and are unlikely to stray too far from you.

The Dip

You will eventually reach the peak of the smaller summit in the ridge, tricking you into believing that you have already reached the summit. However, as it you will see, there is a small dip to navigate down before you approach the real summit. Here the ground becomes more rocky and uneven, and you may need to take extra care in wet weather when the rocks can become slippery.

The Summit

Once you reach the real summit you are rewarded with wonderful views across the north-western Lake District. Facing the direction you have come from, Skiddaw lies directly in front of you, whilst Derwent Water and Keswick, lie to your right, with the summit of Helvellyn visible above Derwent Water. Behind you, the iconic summit of Causey Pike is instantly recognisable with its “humps” at the top. To your left, you will see Stile End, Outerside and Grisedale Pike.

Descending Barrow

If you prefer, you can head back down the fell the way you came for a shorter walk. Alternatively, turn away from the direction you came and descend the fell using the path the other side of the summit. As you can see from the image, the summit of Stile End is directly ahead, with Outerside just beyond it, and the larger summit of Grisedale Pike behind it (seen here with snow). You are heading to the small summit of Stile End – though for an even longer walk you could go across to Outerside before heading back.

The Ascent Up Stile End

As you reach the bottom of Barrow, be aware that it can become boggy here. Go straight to begin the ascent up the zigzagged path that climbs Stile End. Again, this is a fairly gentle climb that most people would be able to accomplish.

The Summit of Stile End

At the summit of Stile End you are once more rewarded with fantastic views with Skiddaw, the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake, and the Coledale valley all visible. Continue following the path over the ridge to begin your descent down the other side. You will see the village of Braithwaite ahead of you.

Descending Stile End

Follow the grassy path down the fell. Go straight at all times, ignoring any paths leading to the right or left. The path eventually turns into a farm track, and you will reach a large farm gate with a single tall pine tree just beyond it. Go through the gate. The track now becomes a road that leads down to the village. Follow the road, passing several houses and eventually you will reach a turning on the right with a small sign indicating the way to the village shop. This will take you back to your starting point. Alternatively, stay on the road, following it round to the left, to get to the Coledale Inn, which is a dog and family friendly pub that serves food.