Friars' Crag

Friars' Crag is a rocky headland reaching into Derwentwater just outside Keswick, in the Lake District, Cumbria. Few viewpoints in the national park pay off so much for so little effort: a gentle lakeside stroll ends with a sweep of water, wooded islands and the fells of Borrowdale. The land is looked after by the National Trust, which secured it for public use in the 1920s.

What is Friars' Crag and why visit?

The crag juts out into the lake and opens up a wide outlook towards the islands and the hills that frame the Borrowdale valley. There is no climbing and no need to plan a full day around it. You simply walk to the end, stand beside the water under old trees, and take it in. It suits families, older visitors and anyone with only a couple of hours in Keswick.

How do you get to Friars' Crag?

From the middle of Keswick it is roughly half a mile (about 800 m) to the crag, following an easy path down towards the lake and the landing stages where the passenger launches depart. If you start from the National Trust lakeside car park, the route is flat and level, around 15 minutes each way. The path runs along the shore, so ordinary comfortable shoes are enough.

What can you see there?

• The Ruskin memorial. A slate monument stands among the trees on the crag, dedicated to the writer, thinker and painter John Ruskin. He regarded the view from this spot as his earliest memory. The memorial is a Grade II listed structure.
• The Rawnsley plaque. A plaque set into a wall beside the approach path remembers Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, one of the three main founders of the National Trust. The crag was bought with money raised by public subscription in his memory and handed to the Trust in 1922.
• Views over Derwentwater. From the tip you look across open water, small islands and the surrounding summits, a favourite composition for photographers.

When is the best time to go?

The headland is open all year. Sunrise and sunset give the most striking photographs, when low light picks out the shapes of the hills. Summer afternoons are the busiest, so choose early morning if you want quiet. The National Trust also runs evening stargazing walks that start from the lakeside car park.

What else is nearby?

It is easy to combine the crag with other Keswick outings. Castlehead offers a short, easy walk with views over the lake, and the landing stages let you hop on a launch for a cruise around Derwentwater. Keen walkers can circle the entire lake, a route that guides put at between 8 and 10 miles.

Frequently asked questions

How long should I allow for Friars' Crag? The walk from the lakeside car park takes about 15 minutes one way, so an hour is plenty including time at the viewpoint.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The crag is open National Trust land and needs no ticket, although parking nearby may be charged.

Is it suitable for children and less mobile visitors? The path is short and flat, making it one of the easiest outings on Derwentwater. The surface can be wet after rain.

Who was John Ruskin? A Victorian writer, art critic and painter. The memorial on the crag recalls that the view from here was his first childhood memory.