Derwent Water Walk, Keswick, Cumbria, UK

Visited July 15, 2023

Started at the Derwent Water shore at the Keswick launch https://keswick-launch.co.uk/

13-15 degrees Celsius forecasted (55-59 degrees Fahrenheit), mix of sun, rainbows, and rain (mostly rain); 6:36 AM-2:05 PM

Restroom facilities were noted as available on some of the maps but I did not see any public toilets

Keswick is very dog friendly

I walked 16.58 miles total. The walk is described as a ten-mile walk but I added a few miles to explore Ashness Bridge and then Lodore Falls while I was in the area. Until 10:00 AM, I had the trail mostly to myself and saw only saw a few people; most were walking their dogs.

The temperature was cool enough that I was glad to be wearing waterproof jacket and pants. It was much chillier than Ireland was last summer.

The trail posts were not as helpful as one might hope. Many just stated "Public Footpath" but I went clockwise around the lake so I just kept the lake to my right. One helpful note: when the trail disappears near Lodore Hotel, cross and walk down the road a ways to pick up the trail as it crosses Chinese Bridge.

Parking: There is limited parking available. I walked or used the bus and ferry. The bus schedule is available in the entryway at the Booths Grocery Store in Keswick and the ferry schedule is available online: https://keswick-launch.co.uk/cruises/times/

There was very little trash along the trails.

There were some mosquitos but just in a small area near the water during the first hour. After that the rain came and the temperatures dropped which I think kept the midges away. I had bought some Smidge at a gift shop in Glen Coe, Scotland, but never needed to use it.

I would not recommend this trail for strollers. I did not see any on the trail. I did see bikes with kiddie trailers but they parked at the bottom of the trail to the Lodore Falls. I do not know if they used the road for most of their travels and had just pulled off; I never saw them again during my travels.

I saw a variety of wildflowers, cattle, llamas, sheep, seabirds, trees, and two roe deer running across a field.

For more information: https://www.keswick.org/what-to-do/walking-routes/derwentwaterwalk

and https://www.wainwrightwalking.co.uk/a-circuit-of-derwentwater-2/

For a map: https://www.keswick.org/UserContent/doc/11038/derwentwater%20walk%20downloadable%20map.pdf

Nearby:

The Royal Oak The Royal Oak, Main St, Keswick CA12 5HZ - Call 017687 73135

https://www.royaloakkeswick.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjww7KmBhAyEiwA5-PUStiWAyKJwW-tZ-u9NRmCG0-_LmCmsG4tu70BL_RnN4h9uh40KBNlXhoCvUgQAvD_BwE

Just a few minutes' walk from the boat launch and the cottage where I was staying for the week. They offer rooms and based on the dining service, I would be interested in checking out their rooms if I ever visit Keswick again.

I ate dinner here more than once during the week. The food and beverages were excellent. The service was friendly and spot on. The place is very dog friendly. I did not have a dog but I witnessed many dogs visiting during the week. I stopped in early in the day to make dinner reservations or made them a day ahead. This is strongly recommended during the high tourist season.

Rainbow after first shower of the day

Many nice benches with a view on the eastern side of Derwent Water

John Ruskin Memorial at Friar's Crag

https://www.visitcumbria.com/kes/ruskin-memorial/

To see the Ruskin Memorial, the path diverges to the left for a moment but it was easy to retrace my steps and pick up the trail again.

One of many gates to navigate. Some latches had to be pulled up. Some pulled to the side. Most gates were unique.

The view from the bench that is pictured to the right.

This is the field where I saw small roe deer running away.

Huge tree to the right of the path...helpfully labelled so that I knew it was a Lebanon cedar

Centenary Stone in Calfclose Bay celebrates the founding of the National Trust 100 years prior

https://www.walklakes.co.uk/walk_243.html

One of the many reasons I would not recommend this trail for strollers

Not sure where the trail went through here. I followed the visible trail to the road and walked along it for a ways.

If there was a trail through and up, I did not see it. Maybe because the rain was bucketing down at this point?

I, and my camera, were completely soaked at this point. The road to the left lead to Ashness Bridge. If I was doing this again, I would take the bus or ferry to here and make a visit to Ashness Bridge as a separate trip. The upside of doing it early on a rainy morning was that I had it to myself.

Jetty for the ferry at Ashness

I followed the road

Ashness Bridge

Bark House Mountain Hut, Ashness Bridge (built 1964)

Belted Galloways (a bit far away)

Faint rainbow as I returned to Derwent Water and the path after visiting Ashness Bridge

This was not the path (further on is a section where the path DOES look like this) but it was the water going under the bridge pictured above.

This was deeper than it looked. Wet feet and socks resulted.

Swans as seen from the shore at the Kettlewell Car Park

Cross the road from the Kettlewell Car Park

Lodore Falls

Lodore Hotel (the falls are above and behind it)

walk along the road here

path from the road to Chinese Bridge (this was under water a few days later)

Herdwick sheep

Chinese Bridge

The River Derwent

Gravel and footwear has worn this etching. I could not read it.

The duckboards

A special bench in Manesty Woods (There is a book titled Max the Miracle Dog by Kerry Irving and this website which may explain: https://www.maxoutinthelakedistrict.co.uk/.)

Teddy in the Window

Cumbria has a history tied to mining. This is one of the spoil heaps.

Spoil heap

One of the boat launches

A few of these picnic benches are near the southern shore of Derwent Water

Entrust Hands in Brandlehow Park sculpted to commemorate the centenary of the National Trust’s first ever land purchase in the Lake District https://keswick-launch.co.uk/explore/listing/entrust/