Things to Do in Keswick

The third-largest lake in the English Lake District doesn’t fail to impress; at 5 miles (8 km) long, 184 feet (56 m) deep and half a mile (0.8 km) wide, it has been a favorite of kayak and canoe aficionados for several decades now and continues to entice visitors seeking stunning scenery and a feel for the much-hyped Lake District. Once the main fish source for the monks of Furness Abbey in the 13th century, it is now the home of the elegant, Victorian-era steam yacht Gondola, which sails from one end of the lake to the other between March and November.

Around the lake, there are three main villages, Coniston, Brantwood and Hawkshead, where visitors can sleep, eat, drink and shop as they please. Hawkshead is particularly lovely and easy to explore on foot, featuring charming cobble lanes and the fan-favorite Beatrix Potter Gallery. 

Coniston Water has been depicted several times in fiction, with its most famous mention in Arthur Ransome’s novel Swallows and Amazons. The lake also received major international and local press during the 20th century because of the role it played in many water-speed world-record attempts. The record was finally set on August 19, 1939, by Sir Malcom Campbell. His son, Donald, subsequently tried to achieve the mind-boggling 300-miles-per-hour record in 1967 but was tragically killed on the second leg of his attempt. The Ruskin Museum in Brantwood features a complete exhibition on the event. 

Bicycles; motor, sailing and rowing boats; canoes; and kayaks are available for hire at Coniston Boating Centre. Trekking is also a popular activity among visitors, as the lake is surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery, including the famed Old Man of Coniston.

The Lake District is famous for its dramatic high mountain passes, and few are steeper or more winding than the notorious Wrynose Pass, often described, along with the adjourning Hardknott pass, as one of Britain’s most difficult roads. Climbing around 281 meters in just over 3 km, the Wrynose Pass might be a rollercoaster ride, but it’s also one of the most thrilling ascents in the Lake District, serving up astounding views over the surrounding peaks. 

The single-track road can be travelled by car, mountain bike or on foot, and weaves through the mountains between Duddon Valley and Little Langdale, to its highest point at the Three Shire Stone – a famous landmark marking the boundary between the historic counties of Cumberland, Lancashire and Westmorland. 

England’s deepest lake and the focal point of one of the Lake District’s most striking vistas, Wastwater Lake is best known for its rugged screes – the rocky cliff faces that plummet into the water along the east bank. With its inky blue waters and backdrop of craggy peaks, including Red Pike, Great Gable and Scafell Pike, England’s highest Mountain, it’s easy to see why the remote lake was named “Britain's Favorite View” back in 2007. 

The main activity at Wastwater Lake is hiking and a network of trails run along the waterfront and out into the surrounding mountains and Wasdale Valley, or else it’s possible to rent a kayak or canoe to cruise around the lake (sailing and motor boats are banned).