A moderate route in Central. Check the GPS track on Outdooractive for full details of the route, waypoints, and terrain.
Starting Point: National Trust Car Park, Great Wood (NY 271 214)
Terrain: Good clear woodland path, Cat Gill path (steep, slippery in places — care required), open fell path past Lady's Rake, Walla Crag summit, grassy descent following wall, track, footbridge, field path, return woodland path
A short but characterful walk above the eastern shore of Derwentwater, packing 308 metres of ascent into just over five kilometres and delivering one of the Lake District's finest lake views for relatively modest effort. The climb up Cat Gill through Great Wood is steep and demands attention underfoot, but the reward of emerging onto the open fell and following the path past Lady's Rake to Walla Crag's craggy summit is considerable. Derwentwater spread below with its wooded islands, Borrowdale opening beyond and the great fells filling the skyline is a view that earns its reputation — even partially under cloud as it was on our visit. The descent northeast along the wall and down the track provided an unexpected adventure involving a found mobile phone, a sprint back up the hill, a quick march downhill and a good deal of shouting and waving at bemused campers across a field — all eventually resolved with a successful return and a handshake. A walk that delivers more than its modest statistics suggest, and rather more excitement than most.