With a bustling market town set amongst the mountains and between two lakes, the Keswick area is the perfect place for a holiday, whether you’re looking for gentle relaxation or action packed family fun.

This is a major centre for walkers, with all sorts of walks on offer, from the summits of Skiddaw, Cat Bells and Helvellyn to forest trails and lakeside paths.

There is a thriving climbing scene in Keswick. See Climb Online for more information, or ask in one of the many outdoor shops.

There are many mountain biking cycle routes. Click here to download a list of these.

Derwentwater, flanked by mountains is a popular place for walks. The Keswick Launch is a lovely way to see the lake itself, stopping at various points around the lake. You can also hire Victorian rowing boats and motor-boats to explore at your own pace, or go swimming in the lake’s clear waters.

For the less energetic, there is plenty to do. The Moot Hall, in the market square, has a well-stocked tourist information centre. Keswick has lots of shops, selling everything from antiques, books, paintings and pottery, jewellery, speciality foods and local produce as well as clothes, gifts, and traditional toys. There is a weekly market on Saturdays.

There are also many galleries and museums, including the Pencil Museum, featuring the biggest pencil in the world and Cars of the Stars, a motor museum featuring celebrity film and television vehicles. In Hope Park there is a golf course (mini-golf).

Keswick has a close association with many literary figures, particularly John Ruskin, the Victorian writer and philiosopher, to whom there is a memorial at Friar’s Crag, and the Romantic poets, Southey, Coleridge and Wordsworth. The historic Mirehouse has a particular connection with Tennyson, who wrote his famous poem Morte d’Arthur whilst staying there. It is open to the public and holds portraits and manuscripts of 3 poet laureates.

By night, you can visit the famous Theatre by the Lake, which puts on plays, shows and concerts all year round. There is also the Alhambra Cinema. At different times of the year Keswick has a Jazz Festival, the 'Words by the Water' Book Festival, a Beer Festival and of course, the famous Keswick Christian Convention.

There are many places to eat and drink in Keswick, from tea-shops to cafes, cosy pubs, gracious lakeside hotels and restaurants. See the Keswick Tourism Association for a full list.

Useful Links in the Keswick Area

• If you would like to spend a day of guided climbing, canoeing, ghyll scrambling or other outdoor adventure sports, then visit Carol at www.carolclimb.co.uk or Andy at www.adventures.org.uk
• For general climbing information, please visit Steve Crowe's website: www.climbonline.co.uk
• For paragliding and guided walks, visit www.airventures.co.uk

Cottages for this area