Our local guide
Walks from the doorExploring on foot
We think that exploring on foot is one of the best ways to make the most of your stay here at Manesty.
Exploring a new area can be a little daunting, so we have written 12 self guided ‘Walks from the Door’ to help you explore our favourite Borrowdale walks without using a car. The walks are circular and vary from short, flat walks through the fields and woodlands to Derwentwater to full day hikes up some of the best Lakeland fells.
Walk 1 Grange Intake and the Bowder Stone — Short — Easy
Walk 2 Kings How and Brund Fell — Medium — Moderate
Walk 3 Catbells Terrace and Brandelhow shoreline — Short to Medium — Easy
Walk 4 Castle Crag and the River Derwent — Medium — Easy (except Castle Crag which is optional)
Walk 5 Catbells and Newlands — Medium — Moderate
Walk 6 High Lodore and Watendlath — Medium — Easy/Moderate
Walk 7 Maiden Moor, High Spy and Rigghead — Medium/Long — Moderate
Walk 8 Lakeshore and Manesty Woods — Short — Easy
Walk 9 Ladder Brow, Brown Dodd and Black Crag — Medium — Difficult
Walk 10 Newlands, Dalehead Tarn, High Spy and Knitting Hawse — Medium/Long — mainly Moderate
Walk 11 Catbells Terrace and Littletown — Medium — Moderate
Walk 12 Newlands Horseshoe — Long — Difficult
Presented as a series of self guided walks, each one is a handy A4 leaflet with written directions and an outline of the walk on a map. You’ll find these leaflets in your cottage, together with an OS map, other maps and Lake District walking books. Alternatively, to explore new areas or for a new look at the fells and valleys consider taking a guided walk with an expert.
Walking in Borrowdale from Manesty
The Lake District is famous for its walks and Manesty Holiday Cottages is ideally placed in the walker’s paradise of Borrowdale. Behind Manesty, the bracken and heather-clad fells of Catbells and Maiden Moor rise to 1800 feet. Below spreads the valley floor. Derwentwater, known as ‘the Queen of the Lakes’ is just a 15 minutes’ stroll from the cottages, hidden by the extensive National Trust woodland and parkland.
From Manesty there are relaxing rambles along the river and round the lake or there are demanding day walks to Scafell and Great Gable in the heart of the Cumbrian mountains. Alternatively there are easier walks up Catbells, or across the head of the lake to Watendlath in its picturesque hanging valley, and to the tarns and fells beyond.
For example, a short climb behind Manesty over Hause Gate leads past old lead mines to Littletown where Beatrix Potter’s Mrs Tiggywinkle lived. Or take the mine track from Manesty which follows the foot of Catbells passing the old lead mine at Brandlehow to Hawse End and Fawe Park where Peter Rabbit stole from Mr McGregor’s garden, and the Flopsie Bunnies slept in the compost heap. The path ends at Nichol End, one of the landing stages for the Edwardian launches which run from Keswick to Lodore and Brandlehow, both just a mile from Manesty.
Stay with us
We offer short breaks and full week holidays all year round, with usual arrivals on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, depending on the accommodation. We can sometimes be more flexible, so if you cannot find what you are looking for please do not hesitate to get in touch by using the enquiry form, by emailing us or by giving us a ring.
We look forward to hearing from you!