Content Team
11 March 2021
Every time you go down Borrowdale, you'll be amazed by the view as you drive through the creatively-named ‘Jaws’ at the head of the valley, just south of Keswick. The valley is so narrow at this point that the crags on either side seem enormous, and it’s extremely easy to imagine our Cumbrian ancestors watching the comings and goings in the valley from their fort at the top of Castle Crag.
You will love Grange-in-Borrowdale. It’s one of those Cumbrian villages that sits unassumingly in fabulous surroundings, going about its business, with no idea how jaw-droppingly beautiful it is. Even the bridge into Grange – a huge, low-slung, double arch over the Derwent - is simultaneously rather impressive and comfortingly local. The village twists away from the bridge at an angle that screens it from the main road, so it’s actually a surprise to see the street of little houses, all either white-washed or chunky local green slate, winding up to the famous Borrowdale Gates Hotel.
You can’t go to Grange without a trip to the Bridge Cottage Tea Room. A choice popular with the locals is home-made soup and cherry pie, but the vast display of cakes always looks great. It’s probably a good job that there is a bold selection of fine walks that orginate in the village – you need it to walk off the cake!
Post-pie, you can take the dog or the children (or just yourself!) for a paddle in the river. The water level’s usually very low here, and the river bed is covered with smooth white pebbles, so it’s pretty safe. More to the point, it’s amazing how mesmerising rock pools are to hounds and small people, and it gives everybody a chance to take in the scenery.
Stay at a self-catering holiday cottage in Borrowdale
We have a number of cottages in Borrowdale, so why not browse our collection? Before you set off on your gastronomic holiday, take a look at our range of self-catering holiday cottages throughout the Lake District. Find the perfect holiday property to provide the right backdrop for your Ambleside adventure, whether you plan to go boating, hiking or mountain climbing. Where will you stay?
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.