Ashness Bridge

If you head south out of Keswick on the B5289, after a short distance you will come to a minor road branching off and heading up a steep hill. At the top of this narrow road you will eventually come to a small stone bridge, that is quite tricky to drive over due to its narrowness. This rather unassuming bridge is in fact one of the most photographed places in the Lake District. You will have seen it on OS Maps, Postcards and boxes of fudge!

Ashness Bridge is Grade II listed “packhorse bridge” that passes over the fast running Barrow Beck. The bridge dates from the 18th century when many good were transported on the back of horses. The parapet was added in the 19th century and it was widened to allow cars to cross in the 20th century. It is built from slate rubble and is a narrow, single span (one horse wide), hump back bridge. The parapet is kept deliberately low to avoid it interfering with the panniers that the packhorse carried on their flanks.

The view is what draws people to this location, and you can see why. There are magnificent views over Borrowdale and Derwent Water to Skiddaw and Catbells, two of Lakelands most climbed mountains. The site is owned by the National Trust and there is also a nearby cairn dedicated to Bob Graham, who ran a round of 42 Lakeland peaks in under 24 hours. Our advice is to get there early though if you want to get a photo of the bridge without the crowds and cars driving across it!