Ashness Bridge to Surprise View
All walk times allow for a leisurely pace and pauses to admire the scenery.
Catch the Keswick Launch service to the start of the walk at Ashness Gate and head up the narrow road leading up the hill. This road passes both the bridge and our view point before ending at the remote hamlet of Watendlath and Watendlath Tarn.
Ashness Bridge is an excellent example of a packhorse bridge. It also has one of the Lake District's most famous views looking north to Derwentwater, Whinlatter and Skiddaw.
Continuing on up the road to Surprise View will reward you with an even better vista. From here you can see the whole of Derwentwater, Borrowdale to the south, and on a clear day Bassenthwaite Lake to the north. You are looking directly down on Mary Mount. It's the perfect spot to have a rest before retracing your steps to Ashness Gate from where you may either take the launch back to Lodore or walk along the lake shore.
Of course, the Lake District abounds in walks of varying difficulty, this is just one of our favourites, it's impossible to list them all.
There are several excellent books available, including the famous Wainwright series, which will suggest tempting days out. Or please feel free to borrow one of our books, ask us for more information.
