A Walking Weekend in Keswick: 3 Day Itinerary
Is Keswick the best place to stay in the Lake District? It might well be! Tucked at the northern end of Derwent Water with Borrowdale, Thirlmere and a whole run of fells within easy reach, it’s the kind of town where you could quite happily fill a weekend without ever driving far, and a walking weekend in Keswick is a great way to spend some time.
We based ourselves here for a few days and packed in a great mix of walking and things to do (because now we have to appease a teenager who is becoming a very reluctant hiker). We visited a few fells, a stone circle steeped in history and discovered a few things to do in Keswick when it rains!
Quick Look
- Location: Keswick, Cumbria, Lake District
- Good for: A varied weekend mixing walking, history and easy sightseeing days
- Nearby: Borrowdale, Derwent Water, Thirlmere, all within a short drive
Our Walking Weekend in Keswick
Day 1: Castle Crag
We kicked the weekend off with a walk up Castle Crag, the lowest of all the Wainwright fells but a brilliant little climb in its own right, tucked into the narrowest point of Borrowdale. Between the old slate quarry remains and huge views over Derwent Water from the summit, it’s a brilliant way to start a weekend without needing a full day to do it.
Day 2: Pencil Museum, Bowder Stone and Castlerigg Stone Circle
Day 2 had promised a lot of rain so we decided to do a few mini trips instead of heading up onto the tops. We started at Keswick’s Pencil Museum, a quirky bit of local history given the town’s graphite mining past, before heading out to the Bowder Stone, a huge, precariously balanced boulder that’s been a curiosity for visitors for centuries. We finished the day at Castlerigg Stone Circle, one of the oldest and most atmospheric stone circles in the country, with a backdrop of fells on every side that makes it one of the most photographed spots in the Lakes.
Annoyingly, the weather was nowhere near as bad as forecast and we could have gone onto the bigger fells as planned! Look at those blue skies!
Day 3: Armboth Fell and High Tove
We saved a longer fell walk for the last day, heading up Armboth Fell and High Tove from Thirlmere. It’s quieter (boggier) terrain than some of the more popular Lakeland fells, but the views back down over Thirlmere make it well worth the effort.
Where to Stay in Keswick
We based ourselves at Castlerigg Hall for the weekend, but Keswick has options to suit every kind of trip:
- Castlerigg Hall – our pick for this trip, a well-located campsite just outside town with easy access to Castlerigg Stone Circle.
- Skiddaw Hotel – a smart, central option right on Market Square, good for anyone wanting to be in the thick of things.
- Lyzzick Hall Hotel – set on the lower slopes of Skiddaw with mountain views and spa facilities, a good choice if you want a bit of luxury after a day on the fells.
- Appletrees Guest House – a well-reviewed B&B just five minutes’ walk from the town centre and Derwent Water.
- Dorchester House – a 4-star B&B in the centre of town, a short walk from the Theatre by the Lake.
- 5 Police Court – self-catering cottages behind the Skiddaw Hotel, right in the town centre, good for families or longer stays.
- Lodore Falls Hotel and Spa – a bit further out in Borrowdale itself, a good option if you’d rather be closer to the fells than the town.
Where to Eat in Keswick
- Yonder – great bakery with delicious options for lunch.
- Cornish Bakery – handy for grabbing pastries or lunch on the go before heading out.
- Lake Road Brunch – a solid choice for breakfast or brunch to fuel up before a big walking day.
- The Royal Oak – our pick for an evening drink, a proper pub to unwind in after a day on the fells.
We really enjoyed our weekend in Keswick! Keswick earns its reputation as one of the best all-round bases in the Lake District. There’s lots to see, eat, drink and shop here so I’d definitely recommend a trip here if you want a really flexible place to base yourself.
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