Getting out, whatever you use to get there

If you are looking for somewhere to stay suitable for wheelchair access or limited mobility, contact us on 017687 75738 or info@keswick.org and we can advise you. Facilities vary considerably between properties, so discuss your individual requirements with the owner before booking.

There are also places with ground floor rooms — hotels, guest houses and self catering. These are not specifically accessible, and may have steps outside the property or sit on a hill, so the same applies: talk to the owner first.

• Keswick to Friars Crag — a level walk through Hope Park on the edge of town and along the lake to the viewpoint at Friars Crag.
• The Keswick to Threlkeld railway path — a 10km out-and-back trail, smooth tarmac the whole distance with very low gradients, suitable for both conventional wheelchairs and mobility scooters. There is regular seating along the route.
• Fitz Park and Hope Park — both have wide level paths that are wheelchair accessible. Fitz Park has parking on Crosthwaite Road; the Lakeside car park is close to Hope Park and the lake shore.
• Latrigg — a small car park at Gale Road above Applethwaite has a Limited Mobility Path to the summit of Latrigg and the viewpoint over Keswick.
• Whinlatter Forest — a designated walking trail 1,500 metres long, sloped, with some loose surface and seating. There is also a one-mile waymarked trail at Revelin Moss suitable for most wheelchairs and buggies: gravel forest road, relatively flat, with views of Grisedale Pike. It starts from the Revelin Moss car park, a quarter of a mile from the main visitor centre.

Outdoor Mobility, a charity, provides all-terrain mobility scooters at Whinlatter Forest and other outdoor attractions in the Lake District, for anyone over fourteen. At Whinlatter the Trampers open up a 2.5-mile waymarked trail with views across the forest. Multi-site membership is £2.50 for two weeks or £10 for the year, and the scooters can be hired for a minimal cost on top.

Theatre by the Lake and the National Trust have partnered on a further Tramper and a programme of guided accessible walks, so that people with limited mobility can join the walks rather than only reach the car park. Contact Theatre by the Lake for details.

Mobility scooter hire is also available from Keswick Motor Company on Lake Road — 017687 72064. They have one wheelchair for hire at £10 a day.

Several Keswick car parks have designated disabled spaces, and Blue Badge holders park free for three hours in the long stay car parks. The rules, the spaces in each car park and the MiPermit codes are on the transport and parking page.

There are two Radar accessible toilets in Keswick: Bell Close car park and Lakeside car park.

Several places publish their own access information — Theatre by the Lake, Keswick Museum, Whinlatter Forest, Mirehouse, Bassenthwaite Lake Station and Thornthwaite Galleries. Worth checking directly before you set out.

The Keswick Launch has a ramp suitable for wheelchairs to reach Pier One at the Keswick boat landings, but it is not possible to board the launch in a wheelchair. People with limited walking ability may be able to descend the four steps into the launch themselves. Wheelchairs can be taken on some of the launches, but the person will need assistance to board. Contact the launch to arrange it.