Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Keswick recommendations?

84 replies

charliewww · 07/05/2022 20:15

I've got a week booked in Keswick soon, with 8yo dd. We haven't been for a few years - does anyone have any recommendations of things we can do/good places to eat while we are there?

Happy to travel to other areas in the car. So far I have on my list the wildlife park, and a rock shop dd has seen on YouTube which is in Ambleside...

OP posts:
Talipesmum · 08/05/2022 09:00

Threkeld quarry has short steam train rides as well as the quarry museum- would def recommend both.

Rowing boats on derwent water, castlerigg stone circle, easy walks - I’d be walking round lakes and up mountains rather than specific attractions, it’s such a beautiful place. Buttermere is especially beautiful. Castle crag walk is brilliant fun, Latrigg is easy. Boat trips on the lake and walking and picnics when you get there.

Keswick is a lovely town for poking around as well.

itssquidstella · 08/05/2022 09:03

Very touristy but worth going into Grasmere to get some ginger bread - you can combine it with an easy walk up to Easedale tarn, which is beautiful.

fellrunner85 · 08/05/2022 09:16

We go regularly. Most of the main unmissable things have already been mentioned, but top of our lists for things directly in Keswick are:

Catbells walk (only a mile to the top, and a well made path all the way)
Latrigg walk (v short and easy, but fabulous views)
Whinlatter for either mtb or the kids walking trails. Or high ropes if you're feeling adventurous
Walk down by the lake to Friars Crag - can do crazy golf in the park on the way, and get tea and cake at the cafe by the theatre
Kong - either the hard play and crazy climb if you're not very adventurous, or bouldering if you want to do something a bit different.

If you're doing a short drive, the walk up Loughrigg from Rydal is lovely. Caves to play in at the end as well. And Tweedies bar in Grasmere is great for kids as has a huge garden.
Also Buttermere if you're driving out of Keswick and want somewhere a bit quieter for a walk and a picnic.

The Pencil Museum passes an hour if its pouring with rain, but tbh I'd always rather go to Kong in bad weather - more fun, decent coffee, and table football.

Don't go to the bloody wildlife place!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

8 year olds
Trixiefirecracker · 08/05/2022 09:24

…and you could not pass two hours at Penrith castle ( as some other poster mentioned) maybe 10 minutes at the most. There’s not a lot there! Although Brunswick Yard in Penrith is fab if you like vintage/architectural yards to search for treasures in plus it has a great cafe.

glukoo · 08/05/2022 16:16

Trixiefirecracker · 08/05/2022 09:24

…and you could not pass two hours at Penrith castle ( as some other poster mentioned) maybe 10 minutes at the most. There’s not a lot there! Although Brunswick Yard in Penrith is fab if you like vintage/architectural yards to search for treasures in plus it has a great cafe.

There's the castle great to climb on. Decent sized park, a walk and we play mini golf while we are there. Go every year and spend 2-3 hours there.

Trixiefirecracker · 08/05/2022 16:51

@glukoo ah! I thought you meant just the castle, like it was Wray Castle, with lots to do inside it. Still wouldn’t bother with it as much nicer places to visit. However, I do live here so am but jaded by it all!

Original poster
charliewww · 08/05/2022 22:00

Thanks everyone, these are all brilliant suggestions and some great stuff I've not heard of before.

We are going from 23rd May, which is half term for us but I think a lot of places are still at school. So hopefully it will be marginally quieter than usual!

OP posts:
WilsonandNoodles · 09/05/2022 00:05

The local schools are off the week after so might be a tiny bit better but its already very busy! The post of covid let's all holiday in the uk thing seems to have stuck.

mrsmacmc · 09/05/2022 00:28

A Star of Siam sit in or takeaway always features on our Keswick 'to do' list

Hope you have a lovely time OP!

glukoo · 09/05/2022 03:10

The Indian in Applyhead is the best Indian I've every been to.

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 09/05/2022 03:53

You can hire little motorboats to tt fills. ake out, we always go from Brockhole as it's so quiet. It's £30 for an hour including life jackets and then we spend the day in the playground or the tree top nets...... It fills a day for quite a low cost. The gardens and house are stunning too, thats all free.

downtozero · 09/05/2022 05:45

Lowther Castle outside Penrith, and Rheged too.

A bit further afield are some lovely beaches, like St Bees. There's a coastal path too.

Loweswater also a good walk and the pub, The Kirkstile, is lovely. Park there and take the circular lake walk (turn left after the village hall) - decent for an afternoon out.

The Round does great burgers. Fellpack is their sister restaurant, which a PP has mentioned.

Definitely Go Ape at Whinlatter.

Whitehaven has a few decent museums - The Beacon and the Rum Story.

Original poster
charliewww · 09/05/2022 09:13

The Round looks great, thank you! It's right up DH's street. I'm assuming kids are welcome in the daytime there too?

OP posts:
Original poster
charliewww · 09/05/2022 09:32

Sorry just seen someone else upthread said The Round is kid friendly Smile

OP posts:
toomanybooksonmybookcase · 09/05/2022 09:39

The Go Ape at Whinlatter has been taken down. Apparently they're renewing it but as they have chopped most of the trees down, I'm not sure how.

If you do end up at Walby farm, take your own food and drink as the prices there are absolutely astronomical.

yoshiblue · 10/05/2022 09:26

Definitely playground at Fritz Park.

King Kong climbing in the centre of Keswick, though its quite expensive.

Lowther Castle is 30 mins away and has the most amazing adventure playground themed around a castle.

Go Ape treetop climbing in Grizedale Forest (about an hour away)

FrangipaniBlue · 10/05/2022 12:08

The Go Ape at Whinlatter has been taken down. Apparently they're renewing it but as they have chopped most of the trees down, I'm not sure how.

One section was storm damaged recently and they are adding a few more newer sections but the rest is still open.

FrangipaniBlue · 10/05/2022 12:09

Or at least it was when I was up there recently......

FrangipaniBlue · 10/05/2022 12:11

Ok I stand corrected seems it closed in the last couple of weeks 😂😂😂

GuyFawkesDay · 10/05/2022 12:14

Low Sizergh barn is nice with younger kids. There's some nice trails, you can watch the cows in the dairy if you're there at the right time. Lovely cafe and shop.

StooOrangeyForCrows · 10/05/2022 12:21

Wherever you go and whatever you do, buy DC a copy of Swallows And Amazons, Swallowdale and Peter Duck whilst there. Magical stories. The first two based around the lakes, the third a brilliantly written fantasy story about the same children and pirates and treasure. The next time your DC goes to the lakes they will want to go to all the places in the books.

There is a steam gondola S & A based trip on Coniston. We went when I was forty and DH was 49. We had the best day ever.

downtozero · 10/05/2022 17:12

Frangipani that was news to me too and I work in the area!

I would say anything that avoids Ambleside would be helpful.

ColouringPencils · 21/05/2022 11:30

Hope you have a great time @charliewww! I just found this thread as we are going next week. My kids are young teens so we will be doing some hill walks - Catbells, Latrigg and Walla Crag all sound like they would be okay. I also like the sound of the railway walk.
Is it easy enough to get buses eg to Ambleside? I will have a car, but I am crap at parking haha. I remember Ambleside feeling very busy for drivers.
Thanks for the inspiration everyone!

CiderWithLizzie · 21/05/2022 11:32

Pencil museum and catbells

Bewaldeth · 21/05/2022 11:43

I want to go to Keswick now Smile