Keswick Walks and Walking Guide
Lake District, Cumbria
Find circular walks from Keswick, an excellent base for walking in the Lake District National Park. On the shores of Lake Derwentwater and with Skiddaw, England's fourth highest mountain, as a backdrop you its location is perfect. With plenty of accommodation, cafés, restaurants, bars and gear shops it has all the local amenities required. Easy access along the A66 from junction 40 of the M6 is a major benefit passing mighty Blencathra along the way. From the shores of Derwentwater you have a wonderful view to Walla Crag, Borrowdale, Catbells, Causey Pike and many other Lakeland fells.
All walks are free to download and print, all have mapping and GPXS files. The walks listed below are all within easy driving distance from Keswick and public transport can also be used for some routes. The routes vary from easy family walks to hard fell walks visiting mountain summits.
★ = GPS file available
Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
---|---|---|---|
2032★ | Great How, a short ascent above Thirlmere | easy | 2.00 |
2321★ | Shores of Derwentwater from Keswick | easy | 3.50 |
1011★ | Knott Rigg and Ard Crags from Newlands Hause | easy/mod | 3.50 |
2019★ | Raven Crag, the Benn & Shoulthwaite Gill near Thirlmere | easy/mod | 4.00 |
3525★ | Cat Bells (Route 2) from Gutherscale | easy/mod | 4.00 |
2036★ | Cat Bells from Gutherscale | easy/mod | 4.00 |
2041★ | Barf (via the Bishop) and Lords Seat | mod/hard | 4.00 |
1356★ | Walla Crag from Great Wood | easy/mod | 4.50 |
2524★ | Thirlmere Circular | easy | 5.00 |
1506★ | Sharp Edge & Blencathra from Scales | mod/hard | 5.00 |
1008★ | Blencathra via Sharp Edge from Scales | mod/hard | 5.00 |
1158★ | High Rigg from Legburthwaite | easy | 5.50 |
2005★ | High Rigg & Legburthwaite | easy | 5.50 |
1676★ | Ullock Pike, Long Side and Carl Side | moderate | 5.50 |
2040★ | Ullock Pike & Carlside from near Keswick | moderate | 5.50 |
1188★ | Blencathra via Hall's Fell ridge from Scales | mod/hard | 6.00 |
2038★ | Tower Ridge on Eel Crag returning via Sail & Barrow | hard | 6.25 |
1155★ | Causey Pike from Stoneycroft, near Braithwaite | moderate | 6.25 |
3029★ | Derwentwater & Walla Crag from Keswick | easy/mod | 6.50 |
1187★ | Robinson & Hindscarth from Newlands | mod/hard | 6.50 |
1247★ | Helvellyn & Raise from Swirls | mod/hard | 7.00 |
2244★ | Whitewater Dash and Great Calva | moderate | 7.00 |
2525★ | Standing Crag & Dock Tarn from Watendlath | moderate | 7.00 |
2049★ | Calfhow Pike & the Dodds from Legburthwaite | moderate | 7.50 |
1244★ | Lonscale Fell & Latrigg from Underscar | moderate | 7.50 |
1693★ | Grange & Watendlath from Rosthwaite | easy/mod | 7.60 |
3132★ | High Tove & Blea Tarn from Armboth | moderate | 7.60 |
3470★ | Blencathra via Foule Crag from Scales | mod/hard | 8.00 |
1268★ | Cat Bells & High Spy from Grange | moderate | 8.00 |
2587★ | Castlerigg Stone Circle & St John's in the Vale | easy/mod | 8.50 |
2025★ | Helvellyn & Wythburn from Swirls | mod/hard | 8.50 |
1120★ | Grisedale Pike & Crag Hill fro Braithwaite | mod/hard | 8.50 |
2581★ | Lord's Seat & Barf from Whinlatter | moderate | 8.50 |
1732★ | Coledale and Newlands circular from near Buttermere | hard | 9.00 |
1108★ | Ashness Bridge & Grange Fell from Kettelwell | moderate | 9.00 |
1073★ | Skiddaw & Glenderaterra Beck from Underscar | moderate | 9.00 |
3037★ | High Seat & Bleaberry Fell from Keswick | moderate | 9.00 |
2526★ | Standing Crag, Ullscarf & Borrowdale | mod/hard | 10.00 |
1444★ | Great Gable (Borrowdale route) from Borrowdale Youth Hostel | hard | 12.00 |
3119★ | The Newlands Horseshoe - Catbells, Dale Head & Hindscarth | mod/hard | 12.00 |
The walks listed above are the nearest 40 from Keswick when measured in a straight line.
Recommended Reading
Walking the Lake District Fells - Wasdale
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 25 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from the Wasdale, Eskdale and Ennerdale valleys, with highlights including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Pillar. Suggestions for longer ridge routes are also included.
More information
Walking the Lake District Fells - Keswick
Part of the Walking the Lake District Fells series, this guidebook covers a wide range of routes to 30 Lakeland summits that can be climbed from Keswick, Whinlatter, Bassenthwaite, Caldbeck, Mungrisdale and Threlkeld, with highlights including Skiddaw and Blencathra. Includes suggestions for longer ridge routes.
More information
Further Information
Walk Location Map
Walking in Lake District
Walking in the Lake District National Park is amongst the best in the British Isles. The natural beauty has attracted many artists and writers through the centuries and today the same scenery provides the perfect backdrop to a wide variety of walks. The National Park is located wholly within Cumbria with Windermere, Ambleside and Keswick the main tourist towns. For many this is the finest area in England for walking with a wide variety of scenery. Even on the busiest weekends it is possible to get away from the crowds by carefully selecting one of the less-visited fells. More Information
Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details.
Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.