The Lake District- Keswick and the Northern Lakes

Keswick Tourist Information

Keswick- self styled resort, with a distinctly Alpine feel, nestling in the mountains and fells of the Northern Lakes in North West England. Once a important woolen centre, then a popular destination for Victorian Tourists. Offering a host of nice places to stay, from hotels in Keswick, to bed and breakfast b and b in the Lake District to cottages and self catering in Patterdale. A wide choice of shops and things to do. From outdoor sports equipment-crampons, to woollen socks, to day sacks, to walking poles, to bookshops to bakers to antique and gift Shops- just the place to find that souvenir of Lakeland. Tea Shops- for a cuppa and a roasted tea cake, or maybe more. Keswick Tourist Information in the Moot Hall in the Square. Cobbled passages leading to centuries old Inns.

Places to see and things to do include: Keswick Theatre, Allhambra Cinema, Cars of the Stars attraction. For trips around the Lake take the Keswick Launch- running most of the year. Take a 50 min approx. round trip, stopping off at Ashness Gate, Lodore High and Low Brandlehow, Hawse End, and Nicholl End. The Tea Pottery. Pencil Museum. Cumberland Toy and Model Museum Aquarium of the Lakes Further afield Honister Slate Quarry

Walks around Keswick UK

The walk around Derwentwater is mainly off road, often along the gravelly lake shore, often through oak woodland Particular Care should be taken in and after times of high rainfall when the water level rise and the fields flood and the path becomes impassable from Brandlehow to Lodore. Lodore Falls, behind the Hotel, often only a trickle in summer, hidden by trees. In winter after heavy rain a cascade of white rushing water.

Walking Lake District

On the east side of the lake is Ashness Bridge, seemingly timeless, everyone's picture postcard ideal of the Lakes, but infact constantly changing with the seasons, in autumn the gold hues of the bracken and leaves of the birch a delight- perfect for a short break, and a popular launch stopping off point for a low level walk from Keswick. Further up the single track road is a viewpoint, with Cat Bells and High Spy in the distance, the River Derwent snaking across the flood plain far below, Derwentwater in all its glory spread. Continue south up until you reach Watendlath farm, and packhorse bridge, with the nearby tarn, popular with anglers- often chickens running in the farmyard.

A Walk up Cat Bells- offering superb views over Keswick with Skiddaw in the distance- one of the most popular walks in the Northern Lakes. At a height of just over 1400 feet, a low level peak, perhaps suitable for the less experienced walker or for a family. The most popular route is from the cattle grid , taking the wide path up the north eastern slope. a distance of just over a mile. More pleasant we feel is to take the Lady Derwentwater one of the Keswick launches from Lakeside across to Hawes End Landing, through the wood hence to Cat Bells. Once at the summit keener rested walkers may want to continue onto High Spy, leaving what on a sunny Bank Holiday can be a crowded Cat Bells far behind.

A Drive around Borrowdale and Buttermere

Lake District Ospreys 2002 was the second year that a pair of ospreys have breed in the Area. The male arrived on the 3rd April with the female arriving on the 18th April, to utililise the same purpose built nest platform as they had the year before.