Surprise View and Ashness Bridge
Location : Watendlath / Keswick
The hamlet of Watendlath is reached by a very narrow road with passing places, from the Keswick to Borrowdale road near Ashesss Pier. There is a steep climb at first before crossing the famous Ashness Bridge :
then on to ‘Surprise View’ :
At both of these famous tourist spots are places to park, with a larger pay and display car park at Surprise View.
At Surprise View you can look out over the whole of the Derwentwater, Keswick, and beyond to Bassenthwaite Lake. Take care with children as there are no barriers and this is the top of a cliff.
Here you see Bassenthwaite Lake beyond Derwentwater, with the wind turbines at Wharrels Hill near Bothel.
Lower right in the picture is the grand mansion Lingholm, which was one of the places rented by Beatrix Potter‘s family, and where she got the inspiration for Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and several other of her characters.
From here the narrow road continues up to the hamlet and tarn at Watendlath.
For a relatively short but interesting walk – take the Keswick Launch from Keswick to Ashness Pier. Walk up to Ashness Bridge and on to Surprise View. Return, but take a left turn through the grounds of the Derwentwater Youth Hostel, seeing their Victorian waterfalls, and buying tea and cake at the hostel.
Then walk along the road for a short while, then along a woodland path beside the road to the Lodore Falls behind the Lodore Hotel. From here walk to the Keswick Launch jetty at Lodore, and return to Keswick.
See some pictures of this walk on Facebook.
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Grid Ref : NY 274163
