The Bowder Stone, weighing around 2,000 tons, is a natural wonder in the Borrowdale Valley of the Lake District.

A popular Victorian-era tourist attraction is back up and running.

May be an image of 4 people, people climbing and text

People can once again climb over the giant Bowder Stone in Keswick, Cumbria, after the National Trust installed a new nine-metre metal ladder.

The site became a famous stop off for thrill-seekers when a wooden ladder was first installed by landowner Joseph Pocklington in 1798.

National Trust curator Harvey Wilkinson said: ‘This is about restoring the excitement of a visit to one of the strangest and at one time the most famous Lake District attraction.

Where geology became history – the Bowder Stone | The Heritage Journal

‘The Bowder Stone is a powerful reminder of change in the landscape, viewed through the eyes of the painters, poets and writers who portrayed it.

Where geology became history – the Bowder Stone | The Heritage Journal

‘The once visible landmark is now very much a hidden treasure, part of the evolving story of this landscape.’

The boulder is thought to have fallen from the crags above after the last ice age, coming to rest at its current awkward angle.

The site was so popular at one point it was painted by renowned artist John Atkinson Grimshaw between 1863 and 1868.

The Bowder Stone and the beautiful easy walk beyond — Walk My World

The boulder is now surrounded by woodland.

National Trust visitor experience and engagement manager Jessie Binns added: ‘When the Victorians stood on the top of the stone they would have been able to clearly see the high and central fells.

‘However, today’s visitor will instead find themselves surrounded by tree tops, mostly birch and oak. And depending on the time of the year they may also see and hear woodpeckers, tawny owls and large dragonflies like the spectacular golden-ringed dragonfly hunting for insects in the tree canopy.’

Related Posts

Rosalia Lombardo: The “Sleeping Beauty” of Palermo

The image above captures one of the most haunting and poignant sights in the history of preservation: the remarkably lifelike remains of Rosalia Lombardo, a young Italian…

Whispers of Eternity: The Mysterious Monolith of the Andean Highlands

Whispers of Eternity: The Mysterious Monolith of the Andean Highlands

High in the rugged Andean highlands, where thin mountain air meets endless skies, stands a solitary and enigmatic stone monolith. Scholars suggest it may date as far…

Echoes of Stone: The Ancient Archway Near the Great Pyramid of Giza

Echoes of Stone: The Ancient Archway Near the Great Pyramid of Giza

Amid the golden sands of Giza, not far from the imposing silhouette of the Great Pyramid, stands a weathered yet captivating ancient archway. Believed to have been…

Echoes of the Ancients: The Doddington Rock Art in Northumberland, England

Echoes of the Ancients: The Doddington Rock Art in Northumberland, England

Nestled in the rugged landscapes of Northumberland, England, lies the Doddington Rock Art, an extraordinary collection of prehistoric carvings that dates back to the Neolithic and Bronze…

The Mystery of the Bent Pyramid: An Ancient Egyptian Tale of Innovation

In the golden sands of Dahshur, where the scorching Egyptian sun casts long shadows across the desert landscape, stands a monument unlike any other in the ancient…

The Untouchable Enigma: Unraveling the Mystery of Egypt’s Bashiri Mummy

A Delicate Window into Ancient Egypt’s Past In the vast realm of Egyptian archaeology, one artifact stands apart, captivating researchers and history enthusiasts alike: the Bashiri mummy….