A Walk in the LAKES - The Keswick Walk

The Lake District is considered one of the most beautiful areas in the United Kingdom and within this the Keswick area has inspired several of the Lake poets whose works have shaped our ideas about landscapes.

Boat Landing Site at Friar's Crag

Keswick town is located in Cumbria, England close to the Derwentwater Lake. Keswick means 'farm where cheese is made'. If given an option I like to go for the natural beauty over the cityscape and that is what I decided to do in Keswick as well. I went for a moderate grade walk of Friar's Crag and Castlehead as I had limited time available and a more than moderate trek would have taken longer.

Several rivulets cross your path

I started from the Moot Hall in the market square and taking the Lake Road headed towards the Friar's Crag crossing the Hope Park and Crow Park. Thomas Gray's (famous English poet & scholar) account of Keswick has inspired several of the Lake poets to come and stay here.

A View from the Friar's Crag

The high fells of the central lakeland visible from the Friar's Crag have been made famous by John Ruskin, painter & writer who considered Keswick to be the best in Europe and too beautiful a place to live in!

National Trust Centenary Stone

At Calfclose Bay if you look on your right near the shore you will notice two centenary stones next to the shore. These were placed in 1995 to commemorate 100 years of the National Trust in the Lake District and is a tribute to all those who helped in the conservation of the area.

Trek under the canopy of trees

Normally, Calfclose Bay is where trekkers turn towards either Keswick or Castlehead but I decided to keep on going along the edge of the Derwentwater (no tracks so be sure you are not lost!) and came out near the Youth Hostel and then turned towards Castlehead taking the route along the Great Wood forest.

View of Derwentwater Lake & the Central Lakeland from Castlehead

Now the trek becomes moderate as the walk uphill to Castlehead is steep. But once you reach Castlehead, the highest point close to Keswick, all your fatigue just vanishes by the view one gets.

View of Keswick & Skiddaw Slates from Castlehead

The view from the Castlehead is a stunning 360 degree view. Beyond the Derwentwater lake the fells are smooth whereas on this side of the lake it is craggy and this contrast make the area very beautiful. The Lake District (or just The LAKES as is known locally) beauty was recognised by the government when it designated it as a National park in 1951.

View of Shimmering waters of Derwentwater & Barrowdale from Castlehead

One can take the complete circle of the Castlehead hill also if one wants, which I did. From the top I went towards Keswick crossing the St. John's Church and reached back to the market from where I had started.

At the summit of Castlehead

Keswick is definitely more beautiful, and less touristy than Windermere.

To reach Keswick one can take a train up to Windermere and from there hourly buses are available to Keswick.