How To Get Around The Lakes From Keswick
Keswick is perfectly placed for exploring the Lake District, with excellent transport links that can take you all around the Lake District National Park. Whether you choose to travel by bus, by bike, or want a guided tour of the Lakes, there are plenty of ways to get around. Read on for our top tips for exploring the Lake District from your base in Keswick.
By Bus
Keswick has some excellent public transport links to the rest of the Lake District which run year-round, with extra services throughout the busy summer months. You can even take an open-top bus (if you’re feeling brave in the unpredictable Lake District weather!) for fantastic views on the go.
Travelling around the Lakes by bus is a really easy and accessible way to get around, so whether you want to head into a nearby town or find a great walking route, there’s sure to be a bus service to take you where you’d like to go.
For full details on the bus services that run through Keswick, click here.
By Bike
Whether you bring your own bike or choose to hire one while you’re here, exploring the Lakes by bike is a great way to get around and keep fit at the same time. You can hire a mountain bike from Cyclewise Whinlatter to explore Whinlatter forest by bike.
For a list of cycling routes in Keswick, as well as downloadable route maps, click here.
By Launch
You can explore Derwentwater and the surrounding areas by Keswick Launch. Embark from the Keswick jetty - near Theatre By The Lake - and cruise around Derwentwater, with the opportunity to disembark along the way, or stay on the launch for the full 50 minute cruise. There are seven stops throughout the cruise, giving you the opportunity to disembark and explore, so this is a great way to see the areas surrounding Keswick.
For more information about Keswick Launch, and a map of the lake and stopping off points, click here.
On Foot
There are hundreds of brilliant walks that you can do across the Lake District, including routes around Coniston, Ullswater, Buttermere, and of course Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, to name just a few. You can begin some walks from Keswick town centre, including routes for Skiddaw, Latrigg and Walla Crag. For other walking routes which are a bit further afield, you might need to take a bus, or drive, to get to the starting point.
For some of our favourite walks in and around Keswick, click here.
By Tour
For excellent guided tours of the Lake District, look no further than Mountain Goat. Mountain Goat is the Lake District’s leading tour operator, with daily tours departing from the Central Car Park in Keswick town centre. A guided tour is a great, stress-free way to get around the Lakes and see all the major attractions, with an itinerary designed specifically to include beautiful scenery, viewpoints, and much more.
You can find out more about the Mountain Goat tours which run from Keswick here.
By Taxi
If you’d like to hire a taxi to help get around the Lakes, we recommend Davies Taxis, offering 4, 6 and 8 seater vehicles that can take you on scenic tours, as well as transporting you to the destination of your choice. Click here for Davies Taxis contact information.
By Car
If you’re struggling to find a sustainable mode of transport for your journey, most places in the Lakes are accessible by car. The A591 leading out of Keswick will take you directly to Grasmere, Rydal, Ambleside, Windermere, and Bowness-on-Windermere.
You can also follow the A591 further afield to Kendal, just outside the Lake District National Park and close to Oxenholme train station, which is based on the West Coast Main Line with direct trains to London and Glasgow. Another popular destination is the village of Coniston, located about half a mile from Coniston Water, via the A591 and A593.
Eco-friendly cars are available for hire from Co-wheels, just outside of Penrith train station. You’ll be able to hire these low emission, 4-door Hybrid Toyota Yaris cars by the hour or day.
There are so many fantastic places to visit all around the Lake District, the majority of which can be accessed using sustainable transport. We hope that you’ve found this guide to getting around the Lake District helpful. To read more of our blogs on things to do, places to go, and events in Keswick, click here.