Scotland
Affric Kintail Way
Coming soon
- On trail 15.2 mi 24.4 km
- Walking time 7–8 h
- Ascent 860 m 2,800 ft
- Descent 880 m 2,900 ft
- Difficulty Hard
Ennerdale Water and Black Sail, then the slate road down to Rosthwaite.
Section 2: Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite map
Example stay Royal Oak Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: Coast to Coast route description on National Trails . The walk is taken from that page, checked 12 October 2026. Miles on our line are measured between these ends on the imported path. Where a walking guide uses the same two ends, its miles are from walkcoasttocoast.co.uk, also checked 12 October 2026.
The walk
A minor road and a plantation path lead to the south shore of Ennerdale Water, past Anglers Crag and Char Dub, then a forest track toward Black Sail Youth Hostel. The path contours below Grey Knotts, meets the old slate tramway at Fleetwith, and follows the toll road from Honister down to Seatoller and across the Derwent into Rosthwaite. On our line this is 15.2 miles (24.4 km), with 860 m (about 2,820 ft) of climb. A walking guide measures the same two villages as 13.2 miles (21.3 km) and 680 m (about 2,230 ft).
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Start of section
Ennerdale Bridge
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Ennerdale Water
The main path follows the south shore. The north-shore bridleway is the accessible option.
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Honister
After Black Sail the path meets the slate mine and follows the old toll road down to Seatoller.
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End of section
Rosthwaite
Section 2: Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite overview
The ground
- Lakeside path, forest track, open fell contour, then a road descent into Borrowdale.
A long lake shore, then a high valley. This is still the western hill country. The lake is long, and the path stays remote until Honister.
Stops
Refreshments
- The night in Rosthwaite on the published plans is the Royal Oak Hotel. Black Sail Youth Hostel is the remote stop named on the way
Toilets
- No source used for this section names a public toilet
Before you go
Opposite direction
Rosthwaite to Ennerdale Bridge
Walked the other way, you leave Rosthwaite for Honister, pass Black Sail, and finish along Ennerdale Water into Ennerdale Bridge.
End of section
Ennerdale Bridge
Ennerdale Bridge to Rosthwaite FAQ
Is there an easier line through Ennerdale?
Yes. National Trails describes a north-shore bridleway and a forestry track from Bowness car park that rejoins the main path at the head of the lake.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 2 on the 15-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 15-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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