Two walkers on a bracken slope looking down over a lake to the fells opposite

Choose your walk

Climb the highest peaks, seek out the best views, walk the lakeshore, explore the forests and woodland or take in hidden valleys — from Keswick you can do all of it.

The lakes and mountains surrounding Keswick are one of the best places in the UK for hiking and walking. Skiddaw, Latrigg, Walla Crag, Castlehead, Castlerigg Stone Circle and the walk round Derwentwater can all be started from the town centre.

Using the local buses opens up a good deal more — see getting to Keswick. Before you set off, safety on the fells covers what to take and how to check the weather.

Walks marked Car free can be reached on foot from the market square or by local bus — the ones KTA list, with the bus you need. Others may well be reachable too; these are the ones with a route we can point you at.

Where these walks go

A pin for each walk, on the fell, tarn or valley it reaches rather than where it sets off — eight of these start from the Moot Hall. Walks that go to the same place share a pin; the full list is below.

37 walks

  • A farm track running between bare trees to the little whitewashed Newlands church

    This may be just a short walk but it takes the walker into a quiet, relatively unknown part of the Newlands valley - with an insight into the mining h

    1.5 miles

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  • Derwentwater and the wooded vale seen from high on Barrow under piled cloud

    Although Barrow Fell is of modest height at 455 metres there are excellent 360 degree views from the summit, a great reward for not too much effort. I

    3 miles · 2 to 2.5 hours

    Car free — bus X4 or X5

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  • A red telephone box against a rendered cottage on a quiet village road

    A lovely walk up to an isolated tarn and back through the valley. Mosedale is a small village 4 miles off the A66 between Keswick and Penrith. After l

    4 miles · 3 hours

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  • A walker on the bracken path along the shore of Buttermere below steep fells

    A lovely walk around Buttermere with the option to extend the route to the highest waterfall in the Lake District - Scale Force. The footpaths around

    See the route
  • The wooded cone of Castle Crag rising above walled fields in the valley

    A scenic walk to the summit of the smallest of Wainwright's fells. This route follows the terrace path above the lovely Borrowdale Valley. A short div

    5 miles · 3 hours

    Car free — bus 78

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  • A shallow tarn in rough pasture with the long green ridge of Blencathra behind

    This Lake District walk starts and finishes at Castlerigg Stone Circle just outside Keswick passing the tiny isolated church at St John's in the Vale

    3.5 miles · 2.5 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • The Castlerigg stones in close-cropped grass with Blencathra rising behind them

    A short walk with fine views to the surrounding fells setting out along the old railway path, going up the lane to the Stone Circle and returning via

    4 miles approx · 2 hours

    Car free — on foot

    See the route
  • A walker on the red bracken ridge of Catbells with Derwentwater spread out below

    Panoramic views over Keswick, Derwentwater and Borrowdale from the start. Allow around three hours for the walk, plus time to stop and enjoy them.

    ~3.5 miles · ~3 hours

    Car free — on foot

    See the route
  • A bench at a forest viewpoint looking down through the trees to the lake in mist

    A few miles north of Keswick is Dodd Wood, an area of woodland managed by the Forestry England, where you'll find a network of waymarked trails throug

    3 miles · 2-3 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • A turf-roofed bird hide at the end of a boardwalk through meadow grass and flowers

    Dubwath Silver Meadows is a traditional wetland site located near the west end of Bassenthwaite Lake. Maintained by volunteers, it is a peaceful area

    2.5 km · ~1 hour

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  • People on the grassy lake shore under mature trees with the fells opposite

    Enjoy this lovely walk up through Great Wood beneath Walla Crag and back along the lakeshore with fine views over Derwentwater to Catbells. A less str

    4.3 miles · 2.5 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • Two walkers on a stony path high above Thirlmere with the lake far below

    A sustained climb without Striding Edge. Choose the 4.5-mile out-and-back (3½–4 hours) or the 9-mile circuit (5–6 hours).

    4.5 or 9 miles · 3½–6 hours

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  • The green vale with its farms and walls seen from the ridge with Blencathra beyond

    Although named High Rigg the fell stands at a modest 357m and is only high in comparison to the nearby Low Rigg. An undulating ridge walk there are fi

    5.2 miles · 2.5 to 3 hours

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  • Derwentwater and the whole vale seen from the high ridge of Maiden Moor

    The western side of Borrowdale is a long undulating ridge occupied by three attractive little peaks, High Spy, Maiden Moor and Cat Bells. Each one of

    9 miles (14.6km) · 5 - 6 hours

    Car free — bus 78

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  • Snow-covered Skiddaw rising above green fields with sheep grazing

    This low level walk takes you via field paths to the villages of Applethwaite and Millbeck just outside Keswick and back along the terrace road linkin

    4.5 miles · 2 - 2.5 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • The shingle beach at Calf Close Bay with autumn trees along the shore

    Follow the woods to Calfclose Bay, then return along Derwentwater’s shore. Allow extra time to stop and enjoy the lakeside views.

    3.5 miles · 1½ hours

    Car free — on foot

    See the route
  • Keswick and Derwentwater laid out below with the far fells beyond

    A 7.5 mile linear walk, full of interest, starting from Keswick, taking in Walla Crag, Ashness Bridge and Surprise View, with its fantastic vantage po

    7.5 miles · 4 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • The path running through an old stone railway tunnel into green light beyond

    The Keswick to Threlkeld trail re-opened on Saturday 5 December 2020, on the fifth anniversary of Storm Desmond. The trail has now been strengthened a

    Car free — on foot

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  • A beck running clear over rocks down the wide floor of the Langstrath valley

    A low-level walk from Rosthwaite through contrasting valley scenery and striking river features. Allow about 3½ hours’ walking for the full route.

    ~5.5 miles · ~3½ hours

    Car free — bus 78

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  • A wooden gate at the summit path with Keswick and the lake laid out below

    Latrigg is Keswick's own fell and one for the 'must-do' list for your visit to Keswick. The views from the summit over Keswick town, Derwentwater and

    3 miles · 2 to 2.5 hours

    Car free — on foot

    See the route
  • A wide grassy path curving off Latrigg with Keswick and the whole vale below

    This circular route takes you along the railway path and then via Brundholme Woods up to the summit of Latrigg before dropping back down into Keswick.

    c. 6.5 miles · 2.5 – 3 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • A gravel path curving through heather with a wind-shaped pine beside it

    Starting this walk from Whinlatter Visitor Centre gives you a leg up to reach the summits of Lord's Seat and Barf where you are rewarded with magnific

    5 miles · 2.5 hours

    Car free — bus 77 or 77A

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  • An adult and child walking a grassy path down towards Loweswater and the fells

    This route takes you along the terrace path above Loweswater returning with a gentle stroll back along the lakeshore. You can do the walk either way r

    5.5 miles · 2.5 - 3 hours

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  • A stony path climbing through heather and rough grass towards the tops

    Starting from the village of Braithwaite this 6-mile route takes in the summits of Stile End and Outerside before dropping down to Force Crag, the las

    6 miles · 3 hours

    Car free — bus X4 or X5

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  • The floor of the Rannerdale valley carpeted blue with wild bluebells under a lone tree

    A walk up into the Rannerdale Valley, round the base and then up the fairly short but quite steep Rannerdale Knotts, along the ridge with lovely views

    4.5 miles · 2.5 - 3 hours

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  • A line of flat stepping stones crossing a wide shallow river between wooded banks

    A lovely circular walk from Rosthwaite, to the base of Castle Crag (with the option of climbing to the summit), onto Millican Dalton's Cave and then r

    3.5 miles · 2.5 - 3 hours

    Car free — bus 78

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  • Wind on the surface of Watendlath Tarn with its shingle shore in the foreground

    A circular walk starting from the village of Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale Valley near Keswick. The route heads up and over to the hamlet of Watendlath

    7.5 miles · 4 - 4.5 hours

    Car free — bus 78

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  • Bassenthwaite Lake laid out below the grassy slopes of Sale Fell

    Sale is one of the lesser known fells and is situated in a quiet area above Wythop some 8 miles from Keswick. It is definitely an area to put on your

    3.5 miles · 1.5 to 2 hours

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  • A footpath running across open fields towards the bulk of Skiddaw

    The mighty Skiddaw and its neighbouring peaks provide a magnificent backdrop for Keswick. Skiddaw, at 931m, 3054'), is the fourth highest mountain in

    10 miles · 5 - 6 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • A stony track climbing between a drystone wall and bracken with walkers ahead

    A low-level circular walk through peaceful St John's in the Vale starting from Threlkeld Quarry and visiting the very photogenic Tewet Tarn, with Blen

    6.5 miles · 3 hours

    Car free — bus X4 or X5

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  • A thin waterfall falling down the bare scree slopes of a high fell

    From Keswick the peaks surrounding Coledale are an intriguing sight and many are linked at a high level making them ideal for a skyline walk that gain

    11 miles (17.5km) · 7 - 8 hours

    Car free — bus 77 or 77A

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  • A white suspension footbridge crossing the river Derwent between wooded banks

    This 112km route passes right through Keswick and was devised by local Ramblers Association members in the 1970's. The entire route is way marked than

    See the route
  • A boardwalk curving through marsh grass between silver birches with fells beyond

    Follow the waymarked lakeshore circuit at a leisurely pace over a full day. For a shorter walk, use a bus or the launch’s landing stages.

    10 miles · Full day

    Car free — on foot

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  • The ridge of Causey Pike rising above the farms and fields of the Newlands valley

    The Newlands Valley nestles within the fells on the western side of Derwentwater. Only a stones throw from Keswick it encompasses an amazing array of

    8 miles (13km) · 5-6 hours

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  • A wooden stile below a thin waterfall running down a rough grassy fellside

    A circular walk from the village of Threlkeld near Keswick taking you over the fields to Wescoe with fine views of Blencathra, Clough Head and Latrigg

    just under 4 miles · 2 hours

    Car free — bus X4 or X5

    See the route
  • Keswick spread out below with Skiddaw filling the skyline behind it

    Climb Walla Crag from Keswick for outstanding views over Derwentwater to the fells beyond. This route then takes you down to Ashness Bridge and return

    6 miles · 3-4 hours

    Car free — on foot

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  • A peaty path crossing open moorland towards a rocky summit

    Enjoy fantastic views from the three Wainwright summits of Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat before dropping down to the much-photographed Ashn

    9.5 miles · 5 hours

    Car free — on foot

    See the route

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