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You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Keswick
Keswick is both the most northerly of the Lake District’s towns and maybe its best located: at the northern end of beautiful Derwentwater, it’s surrounded by large fells including Skiddaw and Blencathra, two of the most popular among walkers and hikers. It’s also the perfect spot to explore this part of the national park, notably the valleys of Borrowdale and Buttermere.
Right in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Keswick is still only 20 minutes from the M6 – and close enough to some of the Lake District’s best-known lakes, including Bassenthwaite, Thirlmere and Ullswater as well as Derwentwater. Fancy some fell-waking? There’s Skiddaw and Blencathra, but don’t forget Grizedale Pike and Catbells, a fell that is popular with walkers of all ages and abilities.
Keswick is both the most northerly of the Lake District’s towns and maybe its best located: at the northern end of beautiful Derwentwater, it’s surrounded by large fells including Skiddaw and Blencathra, two of the most popular among walkers and hikers. It’s also the perfect spot to explore this part of the national park, notably the valleys of Borrowdale and Buttermere.
Right in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Keswick is still only 20 minutes from the M6 – and close enough to some of the Lake District’s best-known lakes, including Bassenthwaite, Thirlmere and Ullswater as well as Derwentwater. Fancy some fell-waking? There’s Skiddaw and Blencathra, but don’t forget Grizedale Pike and Catbells, a fell that is popular with walkers of all ages and abilities.
Little is known about the early history of Keswick, but St Kentigern is known to have preached at Crosthwaite (to the east of the town centre) in AD 556. A Norman church was built on the spot in 1181, followed by a small settlement.
The church apparently attracted unofficial markets following church services. This caused much contention until a market charter was granted in 1276 to a small cheese dairy not far away on the banks of the river Greta. This was the start of Keswick, whose name translates as ‘cheese farm'.
As Keswick grew in size, the original settlement at Crosthwaite declined, leaving the church isolated.
Prosperity came to Keswick in the 16th century with the extraction of minerals from the surrounding fells. With no local mining expertise, skilled German miners were drafted in to work the copper and lead mines in the Newlands Valley, and a large smelting plant was established at Brigham (where the A66 road bridge crosses the river Greta).
The later discovery of wadd (graphite) at Seathwaite in Borrowdale gave rise to around 14 pencil manufacturing businesses in the area, one of which - the Cumberland Pencil Company - was operational in Keswick up to 2007.
Blencathra - Set near Skiddaw forest overlooking the River Greta in the north of the Lake District, Blencathra is one of the county's most renowned peaks.
Borrowdale - From above the shores of Derwentwater, Borrowdale presents an impressive picture - high peaks reflected in the lovely lake. The valley is a paradise for all walkers with low and high routes to suit all tastes. It's a playground for rock climbers too.
Castlerigg Stone Circles - Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles, with panoramic views and the mountains of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop.
Latrigg Fell - Latrigg is Keswick’s premier viewpoint. It sits in a superb position high above the northern edge of town with its back nestled against Skiddaw’s towering flanks and its front and sides open across the whole Vale of Derwent. From its lofty summit you can sit and have a fantastic time spotting almost the whole of the Lake District’s central fells.
The loop begins by skirting along the edge of the fells with dramatic and atmospheric views over…
A gripping tale of friendship and hope. Lennie and George are unlikely best friends, two drifters…
Discover the peace and quiet of Holme Wood, a mixed woodland of alder, oak, lime, chestnut, ash and…
The award-winning Lakes Distillery Company opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National…
The fantastic "Derwent Fine Art Pencils" shop is a must for everyone, offering a wide range of our…
Experience the beauty of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in this…
A 17thC building, owned and run by family for 30 years. First licensed in 1735 as coaching inn.…
Our cycling holidays are a unique way to discover Cumbria. Designed with the thoughtful traveller…
We're not in Keswick anymore… From Aunty Em's Cumbrian cottage Dorothy dreams of returning to her…
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, finding and tasting wild ingredients,…
The privately owned, four star 17th century former stately home, has 42 individually designed…
The full Strawberry moon is a time to lean into the vibrant energy of the season. As the…
The full Hunters' moon, is named for the hunting our ancestors would have done at this time of…
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this…
Join photographer Steve Blake in our beautiful woodland environment. Full day workshops are…
Glaramara Hotel is situated at the southern end of the Borrowdale Valley close to Lake Derwentwater…
An interactive world of optical illusions including illusion rooms, holograms and interactive…
Great Lake District Swim Challenge West. The Lake District is England's largest national park and a…
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this…
A luxury, family run country house hotel and restaurant near Keswick in The Lake District National…
A 200 year old Cottage overlooking Fitz Park with stunning views of the River Greta, Skiddaw and…
The main ridge of the Scafell Pike massif is traversed on its northwest flank by a spectacular path…
Join Breast Cancer Now's new fundraising adventure Night in the Wild and help change the lives of…
Lindisfarne is a Victorian house quietly situated, but within a few minutes walk to the town…
The loop begins by skirting along the edge of the fells with dramatic and atmospheric views over…
A gripping tale of friendship and hope. Lennie and George are unlikely best friends, two drifters…
Discover the peace and quiet of Holme Wood, a mixed woodland of alder, oak, lime, chestnut, ash and…
The award-winning Lakes Distillery Company opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National…
The fantastic "Derwent Fine Art Pencils" shop is a must for everyone, offering a wide range of our…
Experience the beauty of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in this…
The award-winning Lakes Distillery Company opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National…
The fantastic "Derwent Fine Art Pencils" shop is a must for everyone, offering a wide range of our…
Experience the beauty of the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in this…
A 17thC building, owned and run by family for 30 years. First licensed in 1735 as coaching inn.…
Our cycling holidays are a unique way to discover Cumbria. Designed with the thoughtful traveller…
We're not in Keswick anymore… From Aunty Em's Cumbrian cottage Dorothy dreams of returning to her…
A 3-hour session with a foraging expert, including ID work, finding and tasting wild ingredients,…
The privately owned, four star 17th century former stately home, has 42 individually designed…
The full Strawberry moon is a time to lean into the vibrant energy of the season. As the…
The full Hunters' moon, is named for the hunting our ancestors would have done at this time of…
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this…
Join photographer Steve Blake in our beautiful woodland environment. Full day workshops are…
Glaramara Hotel is situated at the southern end of the Borrowdale Valley close to Lake Derwentwater…
An interactive world of optical illusions including illusion rooms, holograms and interactive…
Great Lake District Swim Challenge West. The Lake District is England's largest national park and a…
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this…
A luxury, family run country house hotel and restaurant near Keswick in The Lake District National…
A 200 year old Cottage overlooking Fitz Park with stunning views of the River Greta, Skiddaw and…
The main ridge of the Scafell Pike massif is traversed on its northwest flank by a spectacular path…
Join Breast Cancer Now's new fundraising adventure Night in the Wild and help change the lives of…
Lindisfarne is a Victorian house quietly situated, but within a few minutes walk to the town…
The loop begins by skirting along the edge of the fells with dramatic and atmospheric views over…
A gripping tale of friendship and hope. Lennie and George are unlikely best friends, two drifters…
Discover the peace and quiet of Holme Wood, a mixed woodland of alder, oak, lime, chestnut, ash and…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 272
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Keswick
Sun, Wind or Rain this is the favourite activity for visitors to Newlands. Ghyll Scrambling is a wet decent of a Lakeland mountain stream, We are based just twenty minutes walk away from the top of the ghyll which means the only thing getting soaked…
Braithwaite, Keswick
The full Pink moon in Libra aligns with spring flowers bursting into life and symbolises happiness & optimism, a time to focus our energy on creating and manifesting our dreams and goals. It calls us to embrace balance, love, and the beauty of…
Portinscale, Keswick
Open every day, The Lingholm Kitchen & Walled Garden has quickly become a popular Lakeland destination for Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Tea.
Keswick
Lindisfarne is a Victorian house quietly situated, but within a few minutes walk to the town centre, lakes, parks and Theatre By The Lake. We offer clean and comfortable accommodation in our four star guest house, with a hearty Cumbrian breakfast,…
Penrith
Our spacious plush glamping cabins can offer a comfortable glamping experience.
Bassenthwaite Lake, Bassenthwaite
Guests at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa can enjoy a full afternoon tea service from 12:30pm-5pm. Diners can choose from a selection of savoury and sweet treats, including sandwiches and filled mini brioche rolls, quiche, homemade cake, biscuits,…
Keswick
Keswick Launch offers 50-minute cruises around Derwentwater. Rowing boats and motor boats are also available to hire.
Borrowdale is quite a complex valley its head is split into a series of off-shoots like the branches of a tree. All very different in character, these sub-valleys are interesting places to explore and can conveniently be used as thoroughfares for…
Braithwaite, Keswick
The Full Grain Moon in Aquarius invites us to celebrate the harvest of our personal growth and spiritual journey. Traditionally known as the Grain Moon, this is a time to reflect on the fruits of our labor—what we've sown and what we're ready to…
Keswick
A 200 year old Cottage overlooking Fitz Park with stunning views of the River Greta, Skiddaw and Latrigg.
Cumbria
Tucked high amongst the fells in a secluded and hidden valley on the eastern side of Borrowdale is the picture perfect hamlet of Watendlath. It sits nestling in a glacier-carved hollow beside the mirrored waters of a tarn and surrounded by trees,…
Cumbria
Moses Trod, the high-level path that skirts the base of Great Gable's impressive north face (Gable Crag), owes its existence to a colourful quarryman known as Moses Rigg.
Keswick
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles with the mountain of Helvellyn as a dramatic backdrop.
Braithwaite, Keswick
Can you conquer WHINLATTER in 2025?
Challenging Whinlatter Forest is the venue for this Trail Half Marathon. With breath-taking views across the Lake District towards Keswick and Skiddaw this run won't disappoint those who love the Lakes. These are…
Vale of Lorton - a bucolic landscape of verdant pastures, riverside hay meadows, fellside woods and hidden farmhouses.
Bassenthwaite
An unique opportunity for anyone over 16 years old. After enjoying a Bird of Prey flying display on the park your experience will begin. Our falconer will teach you how to recall and hold the birds and we start with an owl. Following this we move…
The English , Buttermere
Building on site for over 1000yrs. First licensed 1735 as a coaching inn. Nestles between 2 lakes Buttermere and Crummock. Surrounded by famous peaks, Haystacks, Red Pike and Great Gable.
Keswick
Residential outdoor adventure holidays for people with disabilities, including those with the most complex needs. It’s what you can do that counts!
Derwent Water is a local beauty spot that is frequented by walkers who hike around the eastern shore of this quiet lake.
Cumbria
Mountain passes have been important thoroughfares in the Lake District ever since people needed to travel from one valley to another, because the distance around the mountains was usually very long. This scenic and atmospheric walk follows these old…
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