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Ashness Bridge and Surprise View Walk

1.55 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This short walk visits the famous Ashness Bridge before climbing to Suprise View for great views over Derwent Water. Both of these locations are popular tourist spots with wonderful views over Borrowdale.
Ashness Bridge is an old packhorse bridge which is frequently photgraphed by visitors to the area. The backdrop is stunning with the lake and mountains rising up behind the pretty old bridge and beck. From the bridge it's a short climb to Suprise View, along a nice country lane. From here there's a truly wonderful view over the lake to the surrounding fells.
You can park at the Ashness Bridge car park to start your walk. It's just across the road from the bridge, next to Strutta Wood.
To extend your walking in the area you can try the short climb up to Walla Crag, just to the north of the bridge. Also very close by are the lovely Lodore Falls.
You could also pick up a delightful waterside path heading south along the Watendlath Beck to Watendlath Tarn.

Postcode

CA12 5UN - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Ashness Bridge and Surprise View OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Ashness Bridge and Surprise View Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Mary Mount Hotel is located nearby. They have a restaurant with a lovely terrace where you can sit outside and enjoy views of the surrounding fells. In addition to the full menu and specials board they serve sandwiches, baguettes and wraps at lunch. You can find them just to the south of the car park at Ashness Bridge at postcode CA12 5UU for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

For more walking ideas in the area see the Lake District Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Derwent Water from Surprise View - geograph.org.uk - 1274273

Derwent Water from Surprise View

AshnessBridge

Ashness Bridge with lake and mountains behind

Ashness Bridge 1954 - geograph.org.uk - 977574

Ashness Bridge 1954 This is a photograph taken in 1954 of this now famous bridge. It is interesting as it is one of the first colour prints on the commercial market which were eight pictures on a 120 size negative roll. This road to Watendlath was gated at the bottom where a man collected a fee and fed red squirrels which used to sit on his arm and on the gate.

Derwent Water from Surprise View. - geograph.org.uk - 68

A misty view of the lake from the viewpoint

Watendlath - geograph.org.uk - 244177

Watendlath. This pretty tran is not far from Ashness bridge.

Ashness Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1028243

Autumn view of the bridge

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Ashness Bridge and Suprise View.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Ashness Bridge and Suprise View.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)