The Bowder Stone

Located near the River Derwent is the quirkiest tourist attraction in the Lake District. 

Standing around 29 feet (nine meters) high and 49 feet (15 meters) in diameter, there is some debate over whether this massive rock is a glacial erratic from Scotland or a huge piece of rock that fell from Bowder Crag above. 

Borrowdale was once littered with rocks and was avoided by travelers due to the difficult terrain. However, in the early 1800s, this enormous boulder was billed as a massive tourist attraction. 

It’s rumored that shaking hands underneath this geological wonder brings good luck. 

Update as of September 2021: There is once again a fixed staircase/ladder that allows you to climb up the rock. This is metal, so be careful as it can be slippery when wet.