Visiting Keswick – A Picturesque Town In The UK
Home » Travel »The Lake District attracts nature lovers, hikers and couples from across the world every year. With awe inspiring scenery, streams, coves and waterfalls dotted everywhere in the area; it’s no wonder that it inspired the poetry of Wordsworth and stories of Beatrix Potter.
The town of Keswick is fantastic for nature lovers and people that love hiking, walking and weather permitting – camping. I look at some of the best places to visit in Keswick, which is located in the northern half of the Lake District.
Visiting Keswick
Derwentwater
This stunning lake featured, believe or not, in Star Wars – The Force Awakens. The stunning scenery provides the backdrop to a number of scenes, including an aerial dogfight.
Just a ten minute walk from the centre of Keswick town, the walk around the perimeter of Derwentwater is mainly flat and usually mud free. The walk around the edge of the lake is about 10 miles and you can find a map here which allows you to make the most of the stunning scenery and wildlife (download the pdf in the top right corner).
If you time your walk correctly, you can catch the sunset above the mountains and hills that surround the lake. The lake is very peaceful and relaxing, it is great for walks and picnics. Dogs are also welcome too and there are a number of cafes and coffee shops nearby in Keswick.
Walla Crag
Just a short walk from Keswick is the tranquil, yet stunning area of Walla Crag. The National Trust car park serves as the beginning of the popular walks and hikes in the area. You can follow the path over the footbridge which leads to to Ashness Bridge – a bridge located in an area with some unbelievable views of the Lake District.
Alternatively, you can follow the stoned path, which takes a rather steep route up the hill, eventually overlooking Derwentwater. Again, providing some of the best views that the Lake District has to offer.
Museums
The Lake District and Keswick are well known for their wealth of stunning natural landscapes and of course, lakes! Less well publicised are the rather large number of museums that are contained in the area.
Keswick has its very own museum, aptly name the Keswick Museum. It is relatively small, but packed with interesting artefacts and information. There is a specific exhibition about Alfred Wainwright, the man who loved the area so much that he wrote a number of guidebooks regarding the best walks in the Lake District. Other great museums nearby include The Puzzling Place and The Cumberland Pencil Museum which boasts the world’s longest pencil.
Where to Stay in Keswick
If camping is your thing, then Keswick has a number of sites to accommodate you during your stay. Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site provides stunning scenery and is known for its great facilities, including electric hook ups for caravans, showers and dishwashing facilities. There are a number of tracks and trails for walkers and cyclist to enjoy extending from the campsite too and Derwentwater is within 10 minutes walk.
If you want to be guaranteed a bit of luxury, then the Keswick Reach Lodge Retreat opened in December 2016 and is an amazing facility with its own restaurant, spa and gym. The retreat has a number of dog friendly lodges and hot tub lodges too. So if you don’t fancy hiking on a wet afternoon, you can enjoy the views from the luxury of your outdoor hot tub!
