Friar's Crag

Friar's Crag, on the shores of Derwent Water near Keswick, is the location for Ruskin's earliest memory and sealed the Lake District in his heart.

The first thing which I remember, as an event in life, was being taken by my nurse to the brow of Friar’s Crag on Derwent Water; the intense joy, mingled with awe, that I had in looking through the hollows in the mossy roots, over the crag, into the dark lake, has associated itself more or less with all twining roots of trees ever since.

5, 365 [Modern Painters v3]

He mentions the crag a number of times in passing in his autobiography, Praeterita, so it must have made a substantial impression on him.

The best way to get there is to walk down the lake road from Keswick centre and then to follow the signed path to the crag. Unfortunately there isn't any close car parking.

By the way - The weather wasn't the best when I visited and I will replace these photographs when I visit in sunshine!