Jaws of Borrowdale, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Rosthwaite to Grasmere subsection
Jaws of Borrowdale and the Derwent Meadows around Rosthwaite
Jaws of Borrowdale, Rosthwaite, Coast to Coast
The diamond-shaped alluvial plain of Borrowdale surrounding Rosthwaite was described by Alfred Wainwright, in Book One of his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, as “the loveliest square mile of Lakeland.”
It is a small kingdom of its own, rich in natural features and geological curiosities: two roche moutonnées rise from the valley floor, Castle Crag commands the north-western flank, the River Derwent squeezes through a narrow gorge, and a two-thousand-ton boulder stands poised on its corner. Wild swimming pools glitter along the Derwent, while the famous Jaws of Borrowdale guard the entrance to this remarkable valley.
The Jaws themselves are defined by the steep, wooded flanks that close in around the Derwent — to the west, the slopes of Castle Crag; and to the east, the rising woodland of Bowder Crag, Andersonband Crag, Eelstep Brow and Red Brow, merging with the Brund and Grange Fells.
Jaws of Borrowdale Derwent Valley
The Jaws of Borrowdale mark the point where the River Derwent is squeezed through a deep, wooded gorge between Castle Crag and Grange Fell. From the meadows near Rosthwaite Bridge, there’s a clear view north through this natural gateway — the classic entrance to Lower Borrowdale and Derwent Water beyond.
River Derwent Gorge Jaws of Borrowdale
The gorge of the River Derwent, as it pertains to the Jaws of Borrowdale, is not as dramatic as its name makes out. The gorge and river are actually quite shallow unless the river is in spate. There is a path that rambles along the Derwent's west bank through High Hows Wood and Low Hows Wood, the area of the gorge.
Castle Crag above The Jaws
The Jaws of Borrowdale are framed by Castle Crag to the west and Grange Fell to the east, divided by the hidden gorge of the River Derwent. From Little Gatesgarthdale, between High Doat and High Scawdel, the view reveals the steep flank of Lingy Bank and the rugged mass of Castle Crag from an uncommon and elevated angle.
Castle Crag Beneath High Spy
High Spy, a 534 m Wainwright, is the parent fell of Castle Crag. Though Castle Crag rises only to 290 m, making it the smallest Wainwright, its character and position above the Jaws of Borrowdale make it unforgettable. As Wainwright wrote in his Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, “less than justice would be done by relegating it to a paragraph in the High Spy chapter.”
Hiking the Coast to Coast trail guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast is a digitally enhanced eBook designed to accompany you on your journey along the Coast to Coast path. Available on Apple Books for iPhone, iPad and Mac, the guide includes:
• Mapping with interactive features
• Step-by-step route directions
• Hundreds of colour photographs
• Route conditions in different weather
• Historical and cultural points of interest
Whether you’re planning your trip or already on the trail, it’s a practical and beautifully illustrated resource to carry with you.
