Rosthwaite, Watendlath and Stonethwaite

Stonethwaite Beck, which passes under the bridge at Rosthwaite, on its way to join the River Derwent, is typical of many Cumbrian streams. Its crystal clear waters flow over a bed made up of green and blue stones, against which wild brown trout can often be seen.

From the hillside high above Rosthwaite, there are fine views of the 'Jaws of Borrowdale', the point where the valley splits, with Rosthwaite village below. Beyond are the cottages near the end of the Stonethwaite valley, which branches off to the left. The main valley runs on past Longthwaite, to Seatoller and the Honister Pass. The rugged heights of Glaramara stand between the Stonethwaite and Seatoller valleys, which were carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age. One of the gates across the path is a good place from which to admire the view, and also study two insectivorous plants - butterwort and round leaved sundew, both of which grow in wet ground here. The soil in which they grow is lacking in nutrients, so they supplement their diet by attracting insects which become stuck to their leaves and are then digested.

By the section of the path marked by green topped posts, before it climbs steeply up hill to Dock Tarn, the wet ground supports hundreds of plants of bog myrtle. If you pinch its leaves, you will be rewarded with an unforgettably tangy fragrance. In springtime, the shrub is covered with little orange catkins.

Dock Tarn is a lonely spot. In late spring and summer, sandpipers and pied wagtails can often be seen standing on rocks at the water's edge, and later in the year the tarn is visited by ducks, including a number of goosanders.

From the walk from Dock Tarn to Stonethwaite, a superb view presents itself to the left. Greenup Gill runs down from Greenup Edge, over which a track passes to Grasmere. Between the valleys of Greenup and Langstrath is the mighty form of Eagle Crag. Langstrath Beck and valley, with the Langdales below, as well as Stonethwaite valley beneath the slopes of Glaramara are also visible here. To the right is Seatoller, on Honister Pass, with the remains of its slate quarries. There is an old tramway appearing as a straight line up the hillside. Farther right, you can see the peaks of Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks and Hindscarth.

The woods clothing the steep slopes above the Stonethwaite valley are predominantly of sessile oak. Early in the year, the young leaves are reduced to lacework by looper caterpillars, which hang from the branches on long silken threads. Holly, Birch and Rowan are all common on the walk. At Watendlath, ash trees grow beside the path. These are hollow and have been pollarded; the branches cut back to the top of the trunk to provide a plentiful supply of useful sticks for making sheep hurdles and so on.

Hazels by the track between Stonethwaite and Rosthwaite are coppiced, cut down to ground level for the same purpose as pollarding. Borrowdale is famous for its ancient Yew trees, and some good examples can be seen at Yew Crag, which is to be found above Hazelbank Hotel and near the bridge at Rosthwaite.