Bowder Stone
The Bowder Stone is a colossal lump of rock, around 2,000 tonnes, perched on a narrow base in lower Borrowdale. Carried here by glacial ice or fallen from the crags above, it has drawn curious visitors since the late 1700s, when a ladder was first added to reach the top. A long-standing tradition has people reaching through the cleft beneath it to clasp hands.
- 2,000-tonne balanced boulder
- wooden viewing ladder
- Borrowdale woodland setting
Best for a short, easy walk to one of the Lakes' great natural curiosities.
Things to see at Bowder Stone
Tick these off when you visit — open the place in Manorhop to save your progress.
- The Balancing Boulder Itself
- Wooden Ladder to the Top
- Hand-Shake Gap Beneath
- Borrowdale Valley Views