Things to do when you stay in Portinscale and Keswick
Sightseeing
This guidebook is largely a suggestion of close by things to do while staying at the cottage. I have personally done all of these activities so can highly recommend them all especially if you have children.
Stone age stone circle in a most incredibly beautiful spot. A must visit and a great place to fly a kite or meditate. Spectacular views. my most favourite spot in the Lake District.
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Steinkrins Castlerigg
Castle LaneStone age stone circle in a most incredibly beautiful spot. A must visit and a great place to fly a kite or meditate. Spectacular views. my most favourite spot in the Lake District.
Situated on Derwentwater's edge, fantastic spot to catch the launch or engage in water sports with lots of boat hire options. Lovely family run business in walking distance from the cottage. My favourite thing to do is hire a rowing boat or Canadian canoe and paddle out to St Herbert's Island. For the more adventurous checkout Keswick Extreme http://keswickextreme.com who have a base at Nichol End Marina. There is a great little cafe with very generous portions of homemade scones with clotted cream and jam. Yum!
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Nichol End Landing
Situated on Derwentwater's edge, fantastic spot to catch the launch or engage in water sports with lots of boat hire options. Lovely family run business in walking distance from the cottage. My favourite thing to do is hire a rowing boat or Canadian canoe and paddle out to St Herbert's Island. For the more adventurous checkout Keswick Extreme http://keswickextreme.com who have a base at Nichol End Marina. There is a great little cafe with very generous portions of homemade scones with clotted cream and jam. Yum!
Great nearby place to the cottage from which to hire a whole variety of vessels (rowing boats, kayaks, canoe), for plenty of water-based fun. Lovely welcoming staff.
20 íbúar mæla með
Derwent Water Marina
Great nearby place to the cottage from which to hire a whole variety of vessels (rowing boats, kayaks, canoe), for plenty of water-based fun. Lovely welcoming staff.
Catbells – a must to climb. Lists as one of the top walks in the whole of the UK. Has stunning views over Derwentwater and a very popular climb. From the cottage drive around the Lake (anti clockwise) in the direction of Hawes End and you should be able to find some parking. Go early so that you can park as it is probably the most popular climb in Keswick and you will be stunned by the views. For Beatrix Potter fans; Mrs Twiggywinkle is meant to live somewhere near the summit.
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Catbells
Catbells – a must to climb. Lists as one of the top walks in the whole of the UK. Has stunning views over Derwentwater and a very popular climb. From the cottage drive around the Lake (anti clockwise) in the direction of Hawes End and you should be able to find some parking. Go early so that you can park as it is probably the most popular climb in Keswick and you will be stunned by the views. For Beatrix Potter fans; Mrs Twiggywinkle is meant to live somewhere near the summit.
Latrigg is a small and easy climb mountain with great views over Keswick, there is even a car park near the top for people not able to walk. I would highly recommend you climb this mountain as it is easy to do with kids. You can either walk to the start of the climb at Spooney Green Lane, Off Brundholm Road or you can drive and park the car somewhere nearby. There is a car park near the top at Underscar for ease of access to this fell and to Skiddaw mountain.
18 íbúar mæla með
Latrigg
Latrigg is a small and easy climb mountain with great views over Keswick, there is even a car park near the top for people not able to walk. I would highly recommend you climb this mountain as it is easy to do with kids. You can either walk to the start of the climb at Spooney Green Lane, Off Brundholm Road or you can drive and park the car somewhere nearby. There is a car park near the top at Underscar for ease of access to this fell and to Skiddaw mountain.
Whinlatter Visitors Centre – is an amazing place to visit – highly recommended. You have to pay to park but there are loads of free activities once you are there. For children aged 10 and above and adults, there is the amazing treetop adventure called Go Ape but you would need to book in advance as get very busy in the summer, there are trails through the forest and the kids can have a go at following a map. Ask for the Stick man trail which is lovely for young children. There are trim trials and a lovely shop and cafe called Siskins cafe. There is also a play area for children. The RSPB watches annually the Ospreys that come to the area and rear their offspring and there is lots of information about this amazing creature.
27 íbúar mæla með
Whinlatter Visitor Centre
Whinlatter Visitors Centre – is an amazing place to visit – highly recommended. You have to pay to park but there are loads of free activities once you are there. For children aged 10 and above and adults, there is the amazing treetop adventure called Go Ape but you would need to book in advance as get very busy in the summer, there are trails through the forest and the kids can have a go at following a map. Ask for the Stick man trail which is lovely for young children. There are trim trials and a lovely shop and cafe called Siskins cafe. There is also a play area for children. The RSPB watches annually the Ospreys that come to the area and rear their offspring and there is lots of information about this amazing creature.
Grange near Keswick. This little village is beyond the far end of the Lake opposite the Keswick end and is such a lovely place with a river that runs off the fells and is a perfect spot for swimming in the river as it is not too deep, catching minnows with a net and for dingy-ing as it is safe as the water is shallow and not fast flowing. If you get there early enough there is parking by the little church just near the stone bridge and is an absolute favourite of my two boys. They can happily spend the entire day there, paddling (you need trainers or sand shoes as very stony, playing ducks and drakes, catching minnows, boating in a dingy – best place for that and safe. It is a cheap and happy day out. There are public loos nearby and tea shops and you can buy nets for about £1.50 each for the local tea room. Nearby is the popular Bowder stone.
Grange
Grange near Keswick. This little village is beyond the far end of the Lake opposite the Keswick end and is such a lovely place with a river that runs off the fells and is a perfect spot for swimming in the river as it is not too deep, catching minnows with a net and for dingy-ing as it is safe as the water is shallow and not fast flowing. If you get there early enough there is parking by the little church just near the stone bridge and is an absolute favourite of my two boys. They can happily spend the entire day there, paddling (you need trainers or sand shoes as very stony, playing ducks and drakes, catching minnows, boating in a dingy – best place for that and safe. It is a cheap and happy day out. There are public loos nearby and tea shops and you can buy nets for about £1.50 each for the local tea room. Nearby is the popular Bowder stone.
Surprise View and Ashness Bridge and Watendlath (all near each other). These are great scenic places to visit – drive clockwise around the Lake going towards Borrowdale going through Keswick (not Portinscale) and follow the signs to Watendlath and Ashness Bridge – very touristic but absolutely stunning views. Do not turn off to go around the Lake at Grange but carry on to Borrowdale.
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Dásamlegt útsýni
Surprise View and Ashness Bridge and Watendlath (all near each other). These are great scenic places to visit – drive clockwise around the Lake going towards Borrowdale going through Keswick (not Portinscale) and follow the signs to Watendlath and Ashness Bridge – very touristic but absolutely stunning views. Do not turn off to go around the Lake at Grange but carry on to Borrowdale.
The Bowder Stone – located in Borrowdale – head as if going clockwise around lake going through Keswick not Portinscale but do not go around the Lake at Grange but continue towards Borrowdale until you see signs for the Bowder stone, there is an National Trust Car park that you have to pay for but the kids will love seeing this massive boulder which fell off the mountain side earlier and there are step ladders to the top so you can climb to the top of this massive boulder. Free to climb just need to pay parking. The walk to the boulder and around the stone are nice.
6 íbúar mæla með
Bowder Stone
The Bowder Stone – located in Borrowdale – head as if going clockwise around lake going through Keswick not Portinscale but do not go around the Lake at Grange but continue towards Borrowdale until you see signs for the Bowder stone, there is an National Trust Car park that you have to pay for but the kids will love seeing this massive boulder which fell off the mountain side earlier and there are step ladders to the top so you can climb to the top of this massive boulder. Free to climb just need to pay parking. The walk to the boulder and around the stone are nice.
Pencil museum – home of the world’s first pencil and wonderful exhibits. There is a lovely shop where you can buy quality Derwent pencils and coloring pencils. Lovely cafe where you can try your hand at sketching. Located in Keswick town.
21 íbúar mæla með
Derwent Blýantamúseum
Pencil museum – home of the world’s first pencil and wonderful exhibits. There is a lovely shop where you can buy quality Derwent pencils and coloring pencils. Lovely cafe where you can try your hand at sketching. Located in Keswick town.
Food scene
Lingholm Kitchen
Lingholm gardens and eatery.
Wonderful place
Lovely place to eat for Lunch, stunningly located. From the Cottage head past Nichol End Marina, as if you are going anti-clockwise around the lake but take a right turn marked Swinside and follow this road until you reach on your right hand side the Swinside Inn.
11 íbúar mæla með
Swinside Inn
Newlands ValleyLovely place to eat for Lunch, stunningly located. From the Cottage head past Nichol End Marina, as if you are going anti-clockwise around the lake but take a right turn marked Swinside and follow this road until you reach on your right hand side the Swinside Inn.
City/town information
Keswick is a beautiful market town and has popular market running every Thursday (mid to late Feb - Dec) and Saturday (year round), where you can buy lots of local produce. The town has loads of shops selling sports and outdoor gear as well as three fish and chip shops, a cinema (The Alambra) which is run by a lovely family, a Theatre situated on the shores of Dewentwater Lake (Theatre by the Lake) loads of pubs and restaurants, charity shops (Oxfam, Cancer Research and Barnardos), an award winning Museum (by the park), a beautiful park (Fitz park) plus disabled-friendly cafe with really a nice playground suitable for kids up to age 15 or so and which has been newly refurbished , a leisure pool and fitness centre. The pool is small but it has a wave machine and large indoor slide which are popular with the children. You can stay all day at the leisure pool as it is rather pricey. There is also in the town the pencil museum which is suitable for younger children. By the Lake near the Theatre you can play short golf and obstacle golf. From the Keswick boat landing you can hire rowing boats or take a launch around the lake. If it is warm it is quite nice to paddle and even swim in the Lake but take sand shoes or old trainers as the small stones really hurt ones feet. There is an open all hours shop open from 7am – 11pm called Open All Hours situated opposite the Cinema. There is a post office and the high street banks in the town. There are two supermarkets Booths which is the biggest supermarket and situated by the bus station and a smaller Co-op nearby to Booths. You can park your car at these supermarkets but require parking tickets to park. These tickets can be reimbursed against your shopping. It can be quite hard to find a free parking place in Keswick town but there are plenty of car parks. There is some disk parking allowing free parking for two hours on some roads (for example near the park and Youth hostel). For this you need to get a parking disc –these are freely available usually on the street side in dispensers and you can park for free for up to 2 hours where ever these parking restrictions are in place.
I would recommend that you buy the local weekly newspaper called the Keswick Reminder for things that are scheduled for that week. For example, it lists films showings at the cinema, and other activities. There is also a Tourist Information Office located in the Moot Hall, a striking building in the Town’s market square.
205 íbúar mæla með
Keswick
Keswick is a beautiful market town and has popular market running every Thursday (mid to late Feb - Dec) and Saturday (year round), where you can buy lots of local produce. The town has loads of shops selling sports and outdoor gear as well as three fish and chip shops, a cinema (The Alambra) which is run by a lovely family, a Theatre situated on the shores of Dewentwater Lake (Theatre by the Lake) loads of pubs and restaurants, charity shops (Oxfam, Cancer Research and Barnardos), an award winning Museum (by the park), a beautiful park (Fitz park) plus disabled-friendly cafe with really a nice playground suitable for kids up to age 15 or so and which has been newly refurbished , a leisure pool and fitness centre. The pool is small but it has a wave machine and large indoor slide which are popular with the children. You can stay all day at the leisure pool as it is rather pricey. There is also in the town the pencil museum which is suitable for younger children. By the Lake near the Theatre you can play short golf and obstacle golf. From the Keswick boat landing you can hire rowing boats or take a launch around the lake. If it is warm it is quite nice to paddle and even swim in the Lake but take sand shoes or old trainers as the small stones really hurt ones feet. There is an open all hours shop open from 7am – 11pm called Open All Hours situated opposite the Cinema. There is a post office and the high street banks in the town. There are two supermarkets Booths which is the biggest supermarket and situated by the bus station and a smaller Co-op nearby to Booths. You can park your car at these supermarkets but require parking tickets to park. These tickets can be reimbursed against your shopping. It can be quite hard to find a free parking place in Keswick town but there are plenty of car parks. There is some disk parking allowing free parking for two hours on some roads (for example near the park and Youth hostel). For this you need to get a parking disc –these are freely available usually on the street side in dispensers and you can park for free for up to 2 hours where ever these parking restrictions are in place.
I would recommend that you buy the local weekly newspaper called the Keswick Reminder for things that are scheduled for that week. For example, it lists films showings at the cinema, and other activities. There is also a Tourist Information Office located in the Moot Hall, a striking building in the Town’s market square.