Seathwaite is a tiny hamlet in the Borrowdale Valley, situated approximately 8 miles south west of Keswick. I remember quite vividly back in the early 70’s coming here and parking the car off road at the side of the minor road, to walk the ‘Ennerdale Horseshoe walk’ a tough two day backpacking walk following the ridges around Ennerdale Lake, our first night was an overnight stay at Sty Head Tarn. It was nice to be back some thirty years later to retrace some of those steps. 

Seathwaite is the wettest inhabited place in England and receives about 140 inches of rain every year. In September 1996 five inches of rain fell on Seathwaite in one hour and the resulting flood water severely damaged the nearby Stockley Bridge, fortunately since then the bridge has been repaired and used by many thousands of fell walkers every year.

For many years Seathwaite was a secluded spot being connected to the main road at Seatoller by a rough track. However as a result of the popularity of hillwalking and outdoor activities towards the end of the eighteenth century, the road was eventually surfaced, which, in turn led to Seathwaite becoming one of the most popular starting points for walkers heading for Scarfell Pike, Great Gable and Glamara.