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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.
Sun, Wind or Rain this is the favourite activity for visitors to Newlands. Ghyll Scrambling is a…
Friendly, contemporary Keswick-based art gallery in the heart of the Northern Lake District…
Gallery 26 houses the work of the well known artist, Nelsonn, a painter and sculptor who produces…
Kick start your bank holiday celebrations with a fun, friendly, fitness kick in the forest! All…
We have been providing a personal booking service for a selection of independently owned…
Join Jo from JAG Outdoors for a night-time walk in the forest! We will cover up to 4 miles and hope…
We are a long established, 1981, family-run guest house, with friendly, relaxing atmosphere. We…
Buttermere is ringed by the crags and peaks of Haystacks, Feetwith Pike and others. The 4 mile…
One of the Lakeland classics. Bikers have been enjoying this route since the dawn of cycling. A…
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and…
Brought to you by the National Trust for Heritage Open Days, join ranger Joe from the Derwent…
An interactive world of optical illusions including illusion rooms, holograms and interactive…
Bassenthwaite Lake, owned by the National Park Authority, is 4 miles long and 3/4 mile wide, and…
Considering its unsighted most of the way, the approach to Great Gable from Borrowdale is one of…
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A…
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica…
Presented by Theatre by the Lake The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh Fri 21 Oct – Fri 11…
Self guided walking holiday with luggage transfer and lunch options on the Cumbria Way, a walk from…
North of Skiddaw lies an area of high moors and rolling hills. Bleak and lonely – these fells do…
Commence from the Dob Gill Car Park around a kilometre along the road from Wythburn on the western…
This National Trust wood is a wonderful place to be - right by the lake shore.
Join the Whinlatter team and explore the amazing nature right here in the forest! Taking place…
The western side of Borrowdale is a long undulating ridge occupied by three attractive little…
A 10k Head Torch Trail Race within Whinlatter Forest. The night-time adds a whole new dimension to…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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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…
Kewick
Friendly, contemporary Keswick-based art gallery in the heart of the Northern Lake District National Park, representing over 80 artists.
Keswick
Gallery 26 houses the work of the well known artist, Nelsonn, a painter and sculptor who produces works in series of 26 which are in different materials, styles and subject matter.
Braithwaite, Keswick
Kick start your bank holiday celebrations with a fun, friendly, fitness kick in the forest! All abilities welcome, and we offer lots of adaptations to make sure you can work hard at your level. We will be outdoors in the forest, so bring…
Lonsties
We have been providing a personal booking service for a selection of independently owned self-catering holiday properties in Keswick and surrounding area since 1987.
Braithwaite, Keswick
Join Jo from JAG Outdoors for a night-time walk in the forest! We will cover up to 4 miles and hope for some crisp clear skies and lots of stars to explore at various points along the route. If the stars don't appear, we will still enjoy a…
Keswick
We are a long established, 1981, family-run guest house, with friendly, relaxing atmosphere. We have a range of comfortably furnished rooms all with colour TV, tea/coffee making facilities and serve an excellent breakfast.
Buttermere is ringed by the crags and peaks of Haystacks, Feetwith Pike and others. The 4 mile walk around the lake boasts impressive views.
Cumbria
One of the Lakeland classics. Bikers have been enjoying this route since the dawn of cycling. A cycling club called ‘The Rough Stuff Fellowship’ record following this route in the 1920s on their trusty touring bikes.
KESWICK
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and tranquillity, it can be traced back to the mid 16th century, although it was substantially refurbished in the 1840s.
Rosthwaite
Brought to you by the National Trust for Heritage Open Days, join ranger Joe from the Derwent Riverlands project team on a guided tour at Southwaite beck.
The rivers we look after provide shelter for a myriad of wildlife and plants. None more so…
Keswick
An interactive world of optical illusions including illusion rooms, holograms and interactive exhibits to amaze the whole family, young and old! Do you believe your eyes?
Bassenthwaite Lake, owned by the National Park Authority, is 4 miles long and 3/4 mile wide, and 70ft deep and home to the rare vendace fish species.
Cumbria
Considering its unsighted most of the way, the approach to Great Gable from Borrowdale is one of the best routes up the mountain. To get to it you have to deal with the intervening corries and hills and this is what makes it special. They provide…
Braithwaite, Keswick
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A well stocked trail centre bike shop offering premium bike hire, fast repairs and premium road and mountain bike sales. We also offer guiding and…
Keswick
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica graphite mine which would have served as the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago.
Keswick
Presented by Theatre by the Lake
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
by Martin McDonagh
Fri 21 Oct – Fri 11 Nov | Various times
A Tony Award-winning dark comedy thriller…
'Sometimes I dream… of anything… anything other than this…'
Leenane, County Galway,…
Keswick
Self guided walking holiday with luggage transfer and lunch options on the Cumbria Way, a walk from Ulverston to Carlisle.
Cumbria
North of Skiddaw lies an area of high moors and rolling hills. Bleak and lonely – these fells do not attract the crowds as do their southern neighbours. Great sweeps of open fells dominate the landscape relieved only by the becks. Penetrating this…
Wythburn
Commence from the Dob Gill Car Park around a kilometre along the road from Wythburn on the western bank of Thirlmere. Take the footpath that ascends through woodland from the back of the car park.
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