Keswick will be in full bloom! 

Spot the Daffodils in March, inhale the heady scent of wild garlic from April into May, find the carpets of Bluebells in ancient woodlands and look up into the trees to see the blossom in April. It truly is a beautiful time of year to visit Keswick 

The poet William Wordsworth associated daffodils with the Lake District, and while he might have been inspired by Ullswater, Keswick is still a great place to spot these beautiful yellow flowers that are synonymous with spring. They can be found blooming alongside the river Greta, as well as down by Derwentwater.

Friar's Crag 

Why not take a short walk to Friar’s Crag. It is a tranquil and peaceful spot (but it can get busy during school holidays), ideal for relaxing and taking in the natural beauty of the Lake District. The viewpoint is a popular place to sit and enjoy a picnic, read a book, or simply soak up the peaceful surroundings, and you're sure to spot some daffodils along the way.

It is only a short walk from the town centre and well worth visiting as the view over Derwentwater to the jaws of Borrowdale is amazing. From the Market Square stroll along Lake Road, through the beautiful gardens of Hope Park, follow the shoreline past the boat landings on Derwentwater and you'll very shortly arrive at the viewpoint.

Castlehead 

Castlehead is a low wooded hill close to Keswick town centre only 162metres high with splendid views for minimum effort. It is a great way to get your bearings and is an excellent introduction to the town and its situation, rewarding you with a stunning panorama view for very little effort. You can see the full length of Derwentwater encircled by mountains as well as a bird's eye view over the town and Bassenthwaite Lake. A dial gives the name of 30 fells which can be seen. It is a great route for families as children can gain a great sense of accomplishment from getting to the top of the hill. There is a scrambly bit just before the top which adds to the fun. The whole route from the Market Square can be accomplished in less than an hour and ends with a walk down to the lake and back through Hope Park.

Spring Lambs

Enjoy the sight of spring lambs in the fields during lambing season.

Visitors to the area love to see our local breed of sheep, Herdwicks, and it’s easy to see why. They have a very distinctive appearance, with white faces and white legs, and lambs often have black wool which changes to a blue-grey colour as they get older. Herdwicks are tough little sheep, bred to withstand the tumultuous Cumbrian weather. Not only are Herdwick lambs sweet to look at, but they also have the important job of maintaining the fells of the Lake District, by grazing grass, heather, and controlling bracken - they’re part of the reason why the fells of the Lake District always look so picturesque! See how many lambs you can spot on your visit, and try your hand at the traditional Cumbrian sheep counting method….

One = Yan. Two = Tyan. Three = Tethera. Four = Methera. Five = Pimp. Six = Sethera. 7 = Lethera. Eight = Hovera. Nine = Dovera. Ten = Dick.

IMPORTANT - If you have a dog you must keep them on a lead around sheep and lambs and other livestock, it is extremely important as your dog could kill pregnant ewes and lambs. Keep livestock safe and keep your dog safe.

Get Outdoors

Now that the days are getting longer, we can’t wait to start getting out and enjoying all that Keswick and the surrounding area has to offer - but we do recommend that you still wrap up warmly, just in case! Whether you choose to walk, hike, fish, cycle, or run, there’s no better place to enjoy your favourite outdoor hobby than Keswick. There are also plenty of opportunities for you to try something new while you’re here - what about trying archery, orienteering, horse riding, or having a go at a Forest Segway? You can do all this and more either in or around Keswick. You can find out more about these adventurous activities here.

Early spring is a fantastic time to witness a cloud inversion if the weather is just right!  Walla Crag, Catbells, and Latrigg (seen in the picture here) are great locations to catch a cloud inversion sunrise in spring, but they can be tricky to predict. Known as Temperature Inversions, where the temperature on the ground is cooler than higher up and the cold air gets trapped forming mist and clouds. They usually occur when there is a calm, cold, and clear night, and the ground (and air above it) rapidly cools and sinks into the valley floors, as the air cools, it becomes saturated, and the moisture forms into mist, it does tend to happen more over large bodies of water, such as Derwentwater. If you manage to catch one, it is one of the most beautiful sights to see! 

Spend time with the Family

Spring means the Easter Holidays and May half term, and if you choose to spend the school break in Keswick, there’s always plenty of things going on to keep kids entertained. Keep an eye on the What’s On page of our website to see what’s happening during your stay. We also have a great itinerary of family-friendly walks and fun things to do - we can guarantee you won’t be bored!

We hope you’ve found our guide to Spring 2023 in Keswick useful. For more information about your stay in Keswick, have a look around our website.