Walks near Keswick
12 routes, from 3 easy, 5 moderate, 3 hard and 1 mountain. Each has a route map, the climb worked out from the line, parking, dog and stile notes, and a GPX to download. For things to do, food and where to stay, see our Keswick guide.
Castlerigg Stone Circle from Keswick
Easy, 6.3 km, 130 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
An easy walk from Keswick to Castlerigg, the stone circle ringed by fells, out along the old railway line and lanes and back through farmland.
Walla Crag from Keswick
Moderate, 10.6 km, 377 m up, about 2 hours 30 minutes
A half-day round from Keswick over Castlehead to the cliff-top of Walla Crag, down to Ashness Bridge and home along the Derwentwater shore.
Friar's Crag and the Derwentwater shore from Keswick
Easy, 3.2 km, 6 m up, about 30 minutes
Keswick's favourite short stroll: from Theatre by the Lake to the Friar's Crag viewpoint, then on along the shore and boardwalk. Mostly step-free.
Latrigg from Keswick
Moderate, 4.9 km, 292 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
Keswick's own small fell: up Spooney Green Lane and the zigzags to a grassy top with one of the finest views of Derwentwater in the Lakes.
Skiddaw from the Latrigg car park (Gale Road)
Hard, 10.7 km, 755 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
The quickest honest way up Skiddaw: the old pony track from the top of Gale Road, up Jenkin Hill and along the stony summit ridge to the trig point.
Catbells from Gutherscale
Moderate, 7.1 km, 422 m up, about 2 hours
Keswick's favourite little fell: up the north ridge of Catbells to a rocky top over Derwentwater, down from Hause Gate and back along the terrace path.
Causey Pike and Scar Crags from Stoneycroft
Hard, 8.7 km, 678 m up, about 3 hours
Newlands' best short ridge: up the rocky steps of Rowling End to the knobbly top of Causey Pike, along to Scar Crags, and back past the old Stoneycroft mines.
Grisedale Pike and Hopegill Head from Braithwaite
Hard, 12.5 km, 855 m up, about 4 hours
Braithwaite's big fell: straight up the ridge to Grisedale Pike, along the rim of Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head, and back down Coledale past the old Force Crag Mine.
Dodd from Dodd Wood (Old Sawmill)
Moderate, 5.0 km, 382 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
A steep woodland climb from the Old Sawmill to a summit with a view over Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and across the Solway to Scotland.
Castle Crag from Grange
Moderate, 6.2 km, 279 m up, about 1 hour 30 minutes
The smallest Wainwright with the biggest personality: up through old slate workings to Castle Crag's summit memorial, then down past Millican Dalton's cave.
Blencathra via Sharp Edge from Scales
Mountain, 9.4 km, 840 m up, about 3 hours 30 minutes
The Lake District's sharpest ridge: up from Scales to Scales Tarn, along the knife edge of Sharp Edge to Blencathra's summit, and down Scales Fell.
Borrowdale valley loop: Seatoller, Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite
Easy, 7.6 km, 199 m up, about 2 hours
A low-level ramble through the heart of Borrowdale: Johnny Wood, the River Derwent, Rosthwaite and the quiet side valley to Stonethwaite.