Recommendations for activities in Keswick

[trumpisaflump]

We're heading to Keswick next week, 4 adults and 3 children aged 6 to 10. We're staying at Keswick reach holiday park so a little outside of Keswick I think.
So far we're thinking about visiting the Lingholme estate, climbing the catbells, taking the kids quad biking, going to Keswick wildlife park or King adventure if it's wet, lakes distillery tour and spending a day at Windermere. Does this sound ok to anyone who knows the area? I'm presuming it's going to be wet so I'm trying to plan in advance! Thanks

Thanks for this post I'm going next week to and am yet to plan anything!

Would highly recommend Lowther Castle it has an amazing castle themed playground for children, as well as a woodland trail and gardens to walk around.

Don't overlook Keswick Museum as a way to pass an hour on a wet day. It's quite small but has some fun features for kids, like the mummified cat and slate xylophone.

We've been to Keswick a few times as have relatives there, and each time the pencil museum became a joke threat ('you behave or we'll be going to the pencil museum '). So it's nice to hear it is actually fun!

We also enjoyed the Go Ape course in Whinlatter Forest.

There's an indoor climbing and bouldering wall very close to Castlerigg Stone Circle.

@trumpisaflump I agree re the £80 - we couldn't justify it at that price, but know others who have done it. But you can just visit the shop and tearoom then wander down to see the alpacas for free (or there's a charity donation box).

Someone above mentioned Lowther Castle - I'd forgotten this, as my two now say they are too old for adventure playgrounds which used to be the highlight there when they were in your kids' age bracket, as it's a really good one.

Go and look at the Bowder stone in Borrowdale.

Watendlath Tarn, very beautiful.

Trip to Grasmere, stop off at Rydal Water and see Rydal Caves.

If its wet Puzzling Place in the centre of Keswick is a great way to spend a couple of hours - it's not too expensive and If you check tourist leaflets you can usually get a small discount.

Thank you so much everyone. We're on our way down now and are stopping at Rheged on the way there. We'll definitely go to Whinlatter mountain forest and Lowther castle.

Another vote for the pencil museum - it really is much better than it sounds. And its indoors which might be handy.

@trumpisaflump was using this thread to pull together my own list last night. Note, Whinlatter Forest has a new Shaun the Sheep trail on, with some app to allow you take pictures with the characters.

www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter-forest/shaun-the-sheep-farmageddon-glow-trail-whinlatter-forest

Download the app before you go, as you may not be able to download when you're there.

Can’t believe how many people are recommending the pencil museum. It’s terrible.

They re did the pencil museum a few years ago. I think because it flooded. It was better before, unfortunately.

Threlkeld Mining Museum - has its own little railway, lots of huge diggers and things if any of your children are into that, and is very cheap!

Go to 'The Square Orange' for lunch - magnificent pizza, we drive from bowness every year for lunch!

visiting the Lingholme estate

Is that open to the public? It used to be, but I thought it wasn't any more?

thelingholmkitchen.co.uk/

@ritzbiscuits that looks brilliant thanks. I've downloaded the app now. @ErrolTheDragon I think its still open. We were going to go to the kitchen place for lunch and visit the walled garden. Their website is still active.

We've stayed at Keswick Reach a couple of times, it's fab. The only other wet weather activity I can think of which hasn't been mentioned in Keswick is a swimming pool with a water slide. For dry weather, Mirehouse is a good place, with an adventure playground, and you can walk to the lake from there or through Dodd wood. Also Cat Bells is good, there are some lovely walks down Borrowdale or you can walk up Binsey from the holiday park.