Castlerigg Stone Circle from Keswick
An easy walk from Keswick to Castlerigg, the stone circle ringed by fells, out along the old railway line and lanes and back through farmland.
- Distance
- 6.3 km
- 3.9 miles
- Ascent
- 130 m
- High point 215 m
- Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Walking time, no stops
- Grade
- Easy
- Circular
Take this walk with you
This route is on paths Google Maps knows, so the walking link follows it closely. The GPX is still the exact line. To see the line in Google Maps, open Google My Maps, create a map, choose Import and pick the KML file. It then appears in the Google Maps app under Saved, Maps.
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Castlerigg is one of the most dramatically placed stone circles in Britain: a ring of stones on a low plateau with Blencathra, Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range all around. Walking there from Keswick is better than driving, because the lay-by at the circle is small and the approach on foot lets the setting reveal itself slowly.
This route heads out of town on the Keswick Railway Path, climbs gently by lane to the circle and comes back down across fields. It is a good choice for a short day, an evening stroll in summer or a walk with children who like a destination.
The route
- 1
Into town and onto the railway path
From the car park walk through the town centre towards the leisure centre and join the Keswick Railway Path heading east beside the River Greta.
- 2
Up to the circle
Leave the railway path and follow the minor lanes uphill towards Castlerigg. The gradient is steady rather than steep, and the fells start to line up around you.
- 3
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Go through the gate into the field with the circle, which is cared for by English Heritage and open to visit. Take your time walking round the ring; the view changes with every few steps.
- 4
Back to Keswick
Return by the field paths and lanes that drop west back to the edge of Keswick, then walk back through town to the car park.
Questions people ask
Can you walk to Castlerigg Stone Circle from Keswick?
Yes. It is roughly 7 km there and back by this route, using the railway path, lanes and fields.
Is there parking at Castlerigg Stone Circle?
There is only a small roadside parking area by the circle, which fills quickly, so walking from Keswick is the easier option.
Who looks after Castlerigg?
The site is managed by English Heritage.
More walks nearby
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Friar's Crag and the Derwentwater shore from Keswick
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Food, drink and beds near the start
The Dog and Gun
Traditional, Keswick, £, dogs welcome
A proper Keswick town-centre local, run by Greene King, known for its homemade Hungarian goulash, well-kept ales and a warm welcome for dogs.
Fellpack
Casual Dining, Keswick, £
A laid-back Keswick restaurant built around Fellpots, generous bowls that put creative twists on classics. The short, seasonal menu might put a Japanese dish next to neeps and haggis.
The Square Orange
Pizza & Bar, Keswick, £, dogs welcome
A cosy, buzzy cafe bar on St John's Street serving stone-baked Roman style pizzas, tapas and good coffee, with a full bar and regular live music evenings. No bookings, just walk in.
The Keswick Country House Hotel
Country House Hotel, Keswick, ££
A grand Victorian hotel set in four acres of tended gardens beside Keswick's old railway station, two minutes' walk from the market town centre. Expect classic dining in the Lonsdale Restaurant and views out to the surrounding fells.
The Twa Dogs
Traditional, Keswick, £
A friendly Jennings pub on the eastern edge of Keswick, named after the Burns poem, with a prize-winning floral garden, a few guest rooms and folk singing on Sunday afternoons.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Heritage, Keswick
A 5,000-year-old stone circle set against a natural amphitheatre of fells. Free to visit, impossible to forget.