The local area

Keswick, the Northern centre of the Lake District National Park lies in a beautiful valley between the North shores of Derwent water and the towering grandeur of Skiddaw Mountain.

Keswick town is recorded in the 13th century as Cese-wic, indicating that it acted as a market for cheese. During the 16th century small-scale mining took place here, and it was the source of the world’s first graphite pencils. The pencil industry still remains today at the Cumberland pencil museum.

Keswick was granted a charter to be a market town in 1276 by Edward I. The pedestrianised main street is laid in cobblestones and retains an old charm, which people come from miles around to visit. The Market place features the Moot hall, which dates back to 1571 when it was used as a courthouse. Since then it has also been used as a market, prison and town hall, it now houses the Keswick tourist information centre. Thursday is craft market day and Saturday is full market day with stalls ranging from fruit and veg, fresh fish, local meat and cheeses to art and crafts, pet supplies, sheepskin rugs and woolly hats.

There are a wealth of shops including several gift shops selling all sorts of local crafts and fine goods, a couple of chocolate shops and an excellent selection of cafés and delis to suit all tastes, many of the town centre cafés have outdoor seating areas where you can enjoy a coffee and soak up the unique Keswick atmosphere..

Widely recognised as the Outdoor Centre of the Lake District, Keswick has the widest range of outdoor shops in Cumbria. Here you can often pick up some real bargains with the better known shops such as Blacks, Cotswold Outdoors and Fat Face competing with smaller independent shops such as Rathbones and George Fishers.

For eating and in the evenings there is a good range of pubs, restaurants, bistros and takeaways. Evening entertainment may be found at the highly regarded Theatre by the Lake or the Keswick Alhambra Cinema, and many of the pubs and hotels provide live music.

There are several events and festivals held in Keswick each year, such as Words by the Water (a literary festival), Keswick Mountain Festival, a Jazz & Blues Festival, a very popular Beer Festival and a Spring Festival. In addition the market square hosts events such as an Annual Christmas Fayre.

Derwent Water, the most picturesque lake in Cumbria is only a 10 minute stroll out of the town centre. Here you will find landing stages, where you can jump on board the Keswick launch and stop off at several locations around the lake from where you can take a walk up Walla Crag, Catbells or Maiden Moor or visit Ashness Bridge, the Lodore falls or the villages of Grange or Watendlath.

Or head North out of Keswick to take in the view from Latrigg, or consider walking up Skiddaw, the mountain that dominates Keswick. On a clear day the views from the ‎931 m (3,054 ft) summit are outstanding.

Further afield

You have the whole Lake District to explore and enjoy, too many places to mention here, You can tour the Lakes by car or bicycle, or use the local bus services. Its all there for you to enjoy, here are some photographs taken out and about in the Lake District.