Destination: Keswick

Keswick in the English Lake District lies between the North Lakeland fells and Derwentwater, which is England's widest and most stunning lake.  The name 'Keswick' is said to mean 'cheese farm' and is first recorded as a settlement in 1240. Its origins as a market town date back to 1276 when Edward I granted Thomas, Lord of the Manor of Derwentwater a charter to hold a Saturday market, which still continues today over 700 years later.

The founding of St Kentigern's Church in 533 AD, the Market Charter, early lead mining, quarrying, farming and the growth of pencil manufacture have all played their part in a long and often dramatic history.

This beautiful Cumbrian market town has grown steadily through the help of local industry and visitors to become a thriving Lake District tourism centre with an active and popular local community. Famous literary names too, such as Southey, Coleridge, Wordsworth and Ruskin, were influential in attracting the early tourists to experience the spectacular scenery all around.

The heart of Keswick is its Market Place, surrounded by shops and hotels. The Moot Hall is the dominant building, an ancient structure which houses the National Park Information Centre.  Close by are two large public parks offering games facilities in open, garden and wooded settings.  They are an important part of Keswick's well tended appearance which has won it several awards.

Though only a small town, Keswick surprisingly has a far larger range of shops and services than might be expected. The friendly attention in the shops and the weekly markets around the Moot Hall is pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier era.  Keswick is now rapidly becoming known as the ‘outdoor clothing capital’ of England because of the number of national and local specialist retailers supplying every need.

Keswick on Derwentwater and the Northern Lakes covers about half of the Lake District National Park and is the perfect area to choose for gentle relaxation or for an action packed family adventure holiday with lots of activities and attractions.

The landscape of the Northern Lake District is of spectacular glaciated scenery, ranging from the rugged central volcanic mountains to the smoother outlines and more open countryside of the lakes and villages found along the valley floors and Keswick is right in the heart of this magnificent fell country and has been famous as a centre for walking since the reign of Queen Victoria.

It is a wonderful area to try new outdoor activities or improve your existing skills, walkers and climbers are spoiled for choice. From the high summits to forest trails and lakeside paths, there are routes suitable for all. The mighty Skiddaw can be attempted direct from the town whilst a host of famous fell tops in nearby Borrowdale and the spectacular Newlands valley are just a few minutes away by bus.

Within such a compact area it is very easy to explore the neighbouring valleys and secluded places. To the east you can enjoy the lakeside paths beside Thirlmere orto the west you can explore the delights of Whinlatter mountain forest.

Whatever few visitors come to Keswick without making the short walk to the lakeshore and the boat landings from where rowing and small motor boats can be hired; the regular launch service around the lake also starts from here. A further five minutes walk brings you to Friar's Crag with its tremendous views across the lake and Borrowdale.

But Keswick has much more than great walking to offer and has a range of cultural festivals encompassing traditional jazz, film, literature, and classical music while the Theatre by the Lake has an eclectic mix of drama, music, dance and film in a location that described as not bettered by any theatre in the world! The town’s cultural heritage is rich, ranging from the Lake poets to Canon Rawnsley, one of the driving forces behind the formation of the National Trust.

For visitors to Keswick and North Lakes there is a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you prefer a bed and breakfast (B&B), a guest house, hotel, or self-catering cottage, caravan or campsite.

 Must see and do

• Theatre by the Lake
• Mirehouse Historic Home and Gardens
• Cars of the Stars Motor Museum
• Keswick Museum and Art Gallery
• Trotters World of Animals
• Cumberland Pencil Museum
• Derwent Bay Bears