Places to visit around Derwentwater
Keswick
This town is packed with outdoor equipment shops and boutiques. It’s a short walk to the Theatre by the Lake and banks of Derwentwater, just south of the town. There’s a choice of cafes, restaurants and a range of accommodation in and around the town.
Borrowdale
The Jaws of Borrowdale is an area at the southern end of Derwentwater. It includes the villages of Grange, Rosthwaite, Stonethwaite and Seatoller.
Seatoller
Nestled in the Borrowdale valley, this small village is the last stop before the steep Honister Pass. Walkers head out from here towards the high fells of Great Gable.
Bassenthwaite
Northwest of Keswick, Bassenthwaite Lake is the only official lake in the Lake District and a designated National Nature Reserve. Dodd Wood offers scenic trails and seasonal birdwatching, with stunning views stretching into Scotland from the summit. You can take paddleboards, canoes, kayaks and rowing boats onto Bassenthwaite Lake, just buy your Bassenthwaite permit online for boating or fishing.
Thirlmere
This reservoir supplies water to Manchester. The castle-like building along the east shore is the straining well. The level of the reservoir depends on water demand, so there’s often a strip of barren shoreline. The small whitewashed Wythburn Church is centuries’ old. Tip: You can climb Helvellyn from this side and avoid the ridges. Start from Swirls car park.
More activities and places to visit
- Fitz Park for tennis, children’s outdoor play area and bowls.
- Hope Park for crazy golf and pitch and putt.
- Pencil Museum discovery of graphite opened up new industry in Borrowdale.
- Puzzling Place for a world of optical illusions.
- Theatre by the Lake
- Alhambra Cinema
- Keswick Climbing Wall
- Go Ape – Whinlatter For some high ropes fun in a beautiful forest.
- Honister Slate Mine 10 miles drive south of Keswick, enjoy a mine tour
- Newlands Adventure Centre
- Rookin House Equestrian and Activity Centre
Walking routes near Keswick and Derwentwater
Miles without Stiles routes, easy access routes
The Derwentwater area has 7 easy-access routes suitable for those with limited mobility, wheelchairs, trampers, pushchairs, visual impairments, young children and legs that need care. The routes have no stiles and are graded for some, many or all with descriptions on length, terrain, path type and facilities.
Derwentwater Circular Walk
This is a beautiful, 10 mile / 18km route with flat paths through woodland and along the lakeshore. There are plenty of places to stop for picnics, cafes and the Keswick launch to if you fancy a short cut!
Cycling routes and bike hire around Derwentwater and Keswick
Cycling routes - Coast to Coast
For a long distance ride, Keswick is on the Coast to Coast cycle route 71. This is a great long distance cycle challenge which will take you from the Western coast of Cumbria to the North East coast of Northumbria.
Bike and e-bike hire
- Cyclewise for bike hire options at Whinlatter Forest
- Whinlatter Bikes for rental also at Whinlatter Forest
- e-venture bikes based in Keswick
