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The Borrowdale area includes the National Trust's first aquisition in the Lake District,
Brandlehow Woods on the shore of Derwentwater.
Total Trust ownership in the area
amounts to 11,806 ha (29,173 acres), including 11 farms, half of Derwentwater
(including the main islands), the hamlets of Watendlath and Stonethwaite, and
well-known sites such as The Bowder Stone,
Friars Crag and Ashness Bridge.
Borrowdale also includes the hamlets of Grange and Rosthwaite.
When King Edward VII died in 1910, his sister Princess Louise, President of the National Trust, determined to
purchase the view-point of Grange Fell in Borrowdale, and make it, through the National
Trust, a gift to the public in memory of the late King.
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| It is hard to believe that this valley, now part of the National Park, was once a hive of
industrial activity with iron smelting, charcoal burning, and mining for copper and graphite.
Scattered hamlets reflect the Nordic influence in their names, while stone walls and vernacular
buildings chronicle centuries of farming. Today farming struggles to make a living and visitors
play an important role in sustaining the local community.
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| There is much of historical and literacy interest in the area, including the late Neolithic
Castlerigg Stone Circle just east of Keswick, and the
medieval pack horse bridge at Ashness.
It has long been a favourite haunt of writers and artists.
Friars Cragg at the Keswick end of the lake and one of the most favourite view points In the
Lake District, is where John Ruskin awoke to aesthetic experience as a child, and St Herberts
Island, sanctuary of the hermit in the seventh century, was Beatrix Potter's 'Owl Island' in
the Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.
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Leading south from Derwent water, Borrowdale is surrounded by rugged crags, inviting fells,
old mine workings and wooded valleys with clean rivers. The fine sessile oak woodlands are of
particular ecological interest, and the damp, western climate supports internationally
important lichens, mosses and insects. An alder woodland and marsh along the shores of
Derwentwater provide an ideal nesting site for wildfowl and waders. Brandlehow, on the west
shore of Derwentwater, was the first large 'property' to be bought by the Trust in 1902.
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| Borrowdale splits into 3 valleys, Watendlath, Stonethwaite and Seathwaite, each with it's
own distinctive character. The Trust's estate also includes the Western half of Derwentwater and
half the western shore with the fells behind, the eastern shore up to the watershed with
Thirlmere, and the land around Seatoller up to Honister pass,
with Seathwaite and Stonethwaite. There are a number of National Trust farms within the three valleys, managed by
tenant farmers.
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Farm Food
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The Flock In Tearoom at Yew Tree Farm
(grid ref 257148) offers several items containing locally farmed
'Borrowdale Herdwick' lamb - herdie-burgers and sausage rolls.
Herdwick meat is vacuum packed and ready to take home. It is from source and fully traceable.
Also available are an interesting variety of sheep based gifts.
See www.borrowdaleyewtreefarm.co.uk.
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Borrowdale is 3 miles south of Keswick, across from B5289 extending from the South shore of
Derwentwater to Honister Pass.
National Trust Farmhouse accommodation in the Borrowdale Valley.
Maiden Moor, Catbells and Grange in Borrowdale from King's How
zooming in on Grange in Borrowdale
Grange photos by Ann Bowker.
In Grange village is the small church of Holy Trinity.
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