--- title: "Rosthwaite | Visit Keswick, Lake District" url: https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/rosthwaite description: "A walking base in Borrowdale: stepping stones, Castle Crag, the Langstrath valley, and the cave where Millican Dalton spent fifty summers." --- ## The village Rosthwaite lies six miles south of Keswick in the Borrowdale valley beyond Derwentwater, ringed with mountains and set between the river Derwent and Stonethwaite Beck. It sits at the southern end of the valley, just before the B5289 begins its climb up the Honister Pass at Seatoller. It makes an ideal base for a walking holiday, and an equally good one for doing very little — the shops, pubs and attractions of Keswick are a short drive or bus ride away when you want them. The dark rust-streaked mouth of the cave cut into the quarried rock ## The Professor of Adventure Millican Dalton called himself the Professor of Adventure, and for nearly fifty years he spent his summers living in a cave on the side of Castle Crag above the village. His caves are on the [circular walk from Rosthwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes/rosthwaite-and-millican-daltons-cave) , and the words he cut into the rock at the entrance are still there. ## Walking from the village Large stepping stones crossing a shallow river between wooded banks do ### [The stepping stones](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes/rosthwaite-and-millican-daltons-cave) Always fun to cross in the drier months, and on the way to Castle Crag. Where they are now used to be a ford, until the nearby New Bridge replaced it. On the doorstep [Circular walk](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes/rosthwaite-and-millican-daltons-cave) The Langstrath valley running back into the fells with autumn colour on the lower slopes ### [The Langstrath valley](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes/langstrath-valley) A low-level walk from the village through contrasting and spectacular valley scenery with striking river features, with the option of extending to Black Moss Pot — a popular swimming spot. Low level [Walk the valley](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes/langstrath-valley) Watendlath Tarn lying among walled fields high in the fells ### [Over the fell to Watendlath](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/watendlath) Up and over to the hamlet of Watendlath and the tarn of the same name — one of the hidden corners of the district, left behind when the glaciers scoured out the main valley. Half a day [The Watendlath valley](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/valleys/watendlath) A path running along the riverbank below a steep grassy fellside ### [Coast to Coast and the Cumbria Way](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes) Both long-distance routes pass through the village — the Cumbria Way on its Langdale to Keswick section. Passing through [Walking routes](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes) ## Climbing in Borrowdale Borrowdale is one of the most popular places to climb in the Lake District, because it has so many low-level, fast-drying crags within easy reach of the road. Three classics are here: Little Chamonix on Shepherd’s Crag, Gillercombe Buttress on Gillercombe, and Troutdale Pinnacle on Black Crag. There is fishing and there are water sports as well. A village road curving past a pub beneath a large bare oak ## Come by bus if you can There is a small National Trust car park in Rosthwaite and an adjacent one at the Borrowdale Institute. Both are genuinely small — if you are starting a walk from here, it is worth taking the 78 from Keswick rather than driving down and finding nowhere to leave the car. The 78 runs all year. From April to October the seasonal Honister Rambler adds a circuit in both directions over the pass to Buttermere. [Bus times and routes](https://visitkeswick.com/visitor-info/getting-to-keswick) are on the getting here page. [Find somewhere to stay](https://visitkeswick.com/stay) ## Other villages nearby A lane running between village cottages with the long flank of Skiddaw rising above Applethwaite and Millbeck Two hamlets below Skiddaw, with old mills, red squirrels and the classic route up the mountain. Explore Applethwaite and Millbeck The river running past the cottages and gardens of Grange in Borrowdale Grange in Borrowdale Cross the seventeenth-century bridge into Borrowdale for valley views, riverside walks and the Bowder Stone. Explore Grange in Borrowdale The narrow street through Seatoller between old cottages hung with flowers Seatoller and Stonethwaite At the head of Borrowdale, close to Honister Pass, slate mines and routes towards Scafell Pike. Explore Seatoller and Stonethwaite Whitewashed cottages and a hotel along the road through Portinscale Portinscale Derwentwater boats, lakeside paths and a fifteen-minute walk over the suspension bridge from Keswick. Explore Portinscale The junction of Braithwaite village with its stone cottages and low walls Braithwaite Walk straight into the Coledale fells or head up Whinlatter Pass to England’s only mountain forest. Explore Braithwaite Loading map… - Rosthwaite - [Keswick](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/town) - [Stonethwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/seatoller-and-stonethwaite) - [Grange in Borrowdale](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/grange-in-borrowdale) - [Buttermere](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/buttermere-and-lorton) ## Where to stay For somewhere to stay close by, see [places to stay in Borrowdale](https://visitkeswick.com/stay/borrowdale) . ## For AI agents - API catalogue: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/api-catalog - Guide for AI agents: https://visitkeswick.com/llms.txt - A2A agent card: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/agent-card.json - MCP server card: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json - Personal Agent Protocol: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/poppy.json - Live availability and booking: the site's tools above (MCP connector at https://visitkeswick.com/mcp).