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Lake
Derwentwater
Lake in the northern Lake District, immediately south of Keswick.
A mini guide to
Keswick & Derwentwater
A market town on the shore of Derwentwater, with a stone circle, a theatre and fells on every side
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
A market town on the shore of Derwentwater, with a stone circle, a theatre and fells on every side
Keswick is a market town in the north of the National Park, just north of Derwentwater and about four miles from Bassenthwaite Lake. The Moot Hall stands in the market place, and the Theatre by the Lake and the Keswick Launch landing stage are on the lakeshore a short walk away. Keswick Museum is on Station Road and the Derwent Pencil Museum is on Main Street.
Friar's Crag and Cockshot Wood give easy lakeshore walks, while Castlerigg Stone Circle sits on a hill east of town. Catbells, Walla Crag and Latrigg are well-known fells close to Keswick, and Borrowdale runs south from the lake past Ashness Bridge, Lodore Falls and the Bowder Stone. Skiddaw rises to the north.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Viewpoint
Friar's Crag
Promontory over Derwentwater near Keswick, acquired for the public by the National Trust in the 1920s.
Boat trips
Keswick Launch
Cruises around Derwentwater from the Lake Road landing stage, with stops including Ashness Gate, Lodore and Hawes End.
Theatre
Theatre by the Lake
Theatre on the shore of Derwentwater, opened in 1999, with a summer repertory season.
Directions Website Report a problem with Theatre by the Lake
Stone circle
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Stone circle on a prominent hill east of Keswick, in the Lake District National Park.
Museum
Keswick Museum
Local museum on Station Road showing the landscape, history and culture of the area.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Keswick & Derwentwater and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk to the lake
Friar's Crag and the Keswick Launch landing stage are a short walk from the market place along Lake Road, so you can walk the shore without a car.
2
Take a boat with a walk
The National Park Authority suggests combining a one-way boat trip with a walk, bus or cycle. Keswick Launch stops at Hawes End, below Catbells, and at Lodore.
3
Plan for rain
The Authority says the Lake District has around 200 days of rain a year in the valleys. Keswick Museum, the Pencil Museum and the Theatre by the Lake are all indoors.
4
Borrowdale buses
The Authority says buses still run in Borrowdale in autumn and winter. Check Stagecoach for the service and times before you set out.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Keswick & Derwentwater (area photo): Antiquary, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Derwentwater: Jennifer Petrie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Friar's Crag: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Keswick Launch: wfmillar, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Theatre by the Lake: N Chadwick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Castlerigg Stone Circle: brian gillman, CC BY 3.0, source
- Keswick Museum: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Derwent Pencil Museum: Stinglehammer, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Moot Hall: Richard Humphrey, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Cat Bells: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Walla Crag: Mick Knapton at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Latrigg: Mick Knapton at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lodore Falls: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ashness Bridge: Andy Stephenson, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bowder Stone: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Derwent Island House: The joy of all things, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- St Kentigern's Church, Crosthwaite: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ullswater & Pooley Bridge: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Coniston & Hawkshead: Martin Jeffries, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wasdale & Eskdale: John260660, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Windermere & Bowness: Anthony Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ambleside & Grasmere: Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring the Lake District