Bowder Stone

One side of the Bowder Stone is said to be a simulacrum of the face of Baldr and a small hole is said to have once existed on his head where in Norse mythology the weapon pierced and killed him.

[10] Although the stone was visited and admired by many, such as William Sawrey Gilpin in 1772,[11] Joseph Pocklington was the first to take practical steps to attract visitors, purchasing the site in 1798, fencing it off, clearing away all the smaller rocks and erecting 'Bowderstone Cottage' to house a guide and building a ladder to allow visitors to easily reach the top and admire the outstanding views.

[15] At first Joseph Pocklington took his friends by coach to admire the Bowder Stone, however later it was opened up to all and large numbers of travellers were escorted around the site by the guide that he employed.

[21] The Peppers were the last family to live at the Bowder Stone, keeping a visitors’ book that recorded tourists that included "cabinet ministers, undergraduates, professors, publicists, walkers, lawyers", etc.

[23] The access beneath the boulder is now blocked and no refreshments or souvenirs are available, however Joseph's chapel and the Borrowdale Cottage have been restored as bothies for climbers.

[26] The cottage was for a time used as a tea room and shop, selling souvenirs such as stereoviews, Mauchline ware with engravings of the Bowder Stone in the form of penknives, boxes, pincushions, glasses cases, etc.

[28] In the 1960s the cottage was derelict, and after the National Trust purchased the site they leased it to the Northumbrian Mountaineering Club, who restored it to modern-day standards with electricity, running water, etc.