Castlerigg Stone Circle, which overlooks the Thirlmere Valley, dates back to around 3000 BC and is one of the most important stone circles in Britain. This 4 mile circular walk will take you from the centre of Keswick up to the stone circle and back into the centre once again. It’s a great little half day wander so if you head out in the morning, you’ll be back in Keswick ready for lunch!
The walk at a Glance
Difficulty: moderate - mixed terrain with some elevation. Paths can get slippy and muddy in wet weather.
Distance: 7.5km/4.6 miles
Total Ascent: 200m
Est Time: 2.5hrs
Starting location: Keswick town Centre (Market Square)
Dog friendly: Yes but be mindful of sheep on farmland on the section after Castlerigg and keep dogs on a lead
What is Castlerigg Stone Circle?
A short walk outside of Keswick will take you to the prehistoric Castlerigg Stone Circle. Thought to be one of the earliest stone circles constructed in Britain, today the 38 stones sit above the Thirlmere Valley overlooking the peaks of Helvellyn and High Seat. The stones range in size with some of them reaching up to 3m high!
The exact use of Castlerigg Stone Circle isn’t known but it was very likely to have been used as an important meeting place as well as possible for a place to trade and to hold religious ceremonies. Interestingly, stone axes were discovered inside the circle and during the Neolithic period, stone which was quarried from the fells nearby was used to make axes. In fact, in the Langdale Valley, on the side of Pike of Stickle, there’s a secret neolithic cave which was used to quarry stone from to make axes. The stones are also aligned with the moon and the sun so it could even have been used to observe the night sky. What do you think it was used for?
The 360 views of the surrounding fells are stunning and as you wander within and around the stones, try to imagine being here over 5000 years ago, without the nearby road and without the twinkling lights of Keswick below; it really is a magical place to explore.
Parking for the Castlerigg Stone Circle walk
Keswick has plenty of parking options available within the town in pay and display car parks. Check out the Visit Keswick website for a list of car parks in the town.
If you would rather visit the stone circle on your way past Keswick, there is also free parking right next to the entrance. From here, you can walk straight into the site rather than walking up from Keswick.
Is there public transport to Keswick?
Yes - there are buses which run through Keswick from within the Lake District National Park.
The nearest train station to Keswick is at Penrith, around 17 miles away from Keswick. If you are travelling by train, there is a bus service that connects Penrith train station with Keswick.
How long is the Castlerigg Stone Circle walk?
The whole walk is around 7.5km/4.6 miles and should only take approximately 2.5 hours. However, if you want to spend some time looking around and depending on your walking speed, you might want to add on a bit extra to that.
Is Castlerigg Stone Circle family friendly?
Definitely! Castlerigg Stone Circle is a great place to take children to immerse them into some history in a more fun and exciting way. On a rainy day, the ground can get quite muddy and slippery though so some extra care might be needed. It also gets pretty chilly up here as it's so open so remember to wrap up in a warm jacket like the explore puffer jacket from My Urban Trail.
Are there facilities at Castlerigg Stone Circle?
No - there are no facilities at the stone circle. However, there are facilities including toilets, restaurants and cafes within Keswick.
Castlerigg Stone Circle walk map and route details
Download the route from the OS map here.
- Start the walk in Market Square in Keswick and head out of the town along Station Street. Eventually, this road will take you across the river and towards the leisure centre pool.
- Look for a right turn at the old train station platform to walk along the railway line path. This will take you over the river again and towards a row of houses.
- At the end of the row of houses, head through the gate to meet the main road. Head uphill along the main road then cut off it to follow a road called Eleventrees. This is signposted for Castlerigg Stone Circle.
- At the top of the hill, the road will flatten out and the stone circle will be on your right. There are some information boards and it’s a nice idea to spend some time exploring and taking in the views. When you’re ready to leave, head back to the road and walk slightly further along it, keeping an eye out for the public footpath on your right that leads through fields.
- The footpath will take you down to the main road where you turn right for a short way, looking for a gate on your left signposted for Walla Crag and Keswick. Follow this path through the field until you reach a small bridge.
- Cross the bridge and keep on the footpath until you reach Springs Wood.
- Derwentwater will come into view but keep following the path through the woods with the stream on your right hand side. The path will lead out of the woods and onto Springs Road. Follow the road until you reach the T-Junction.
- At the T-Junction, turn left and follow the main road back into the centre of Keswick where you started.
Komoot App
Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.
What else can I do in Keswick?
Keswick is a hub of activity and there are plenty of things to do. Check out some of the main sights on the Visit Keswick website.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.
Happy adventuring!
Izzy