Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Spectacular and varied lakeland landscape around Derwent Water
Download the Keswick trail map
Just five minutes from the centre of town and you'll be on an adventure!
Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Overview
Spectacular and varied lakeland landscape around Derwent Water
Derwent Water is often called the 'Queen of the Lakes', and as you canoe between the islands with your picnic at the ready it's easy to see why. As Borrowdale winds the 7 miles from Keswick to Seathwaite, there are eight National Trust car parks from which you can start your adventure into the fells.
At the south end of Derwent Water, the boardwalk across the wetlands makes the 9-mile circular waymarked walk around the lake a very pleasant leg stretch, with the chance to see otters and wetland birds if you're lucky. The jewel in the crown is Derwent Island House, open for five special days each year. And don't miss Force Crag Mine - a hidden gem at the foot of a waterfall in Coledale near Braithwaite.
- Telephone
- 01768774649
- NorthandWestLakes@nationaltrust.org.uk
Borrowdale and Derwent Water
How to get here
- Address
- near Keswick, Cumbria
- By cycle
- NCN71 (C2C) passes through Keswick
- Cycle route information
- By ferry
- Keswick Launch Company service to seven landing stages around Derwent Water. 017687 72263
- By train
- Penrith station is 18 miles to the east, served by regular trains between Glasgow and London. A regular bus service links Penrith to Keswick
- By road
- B5289 south from Keswick. This is the Borrowdale Road and winds the full length of the valley, climbing the famous Honister Pass to the Buttermere Valley. Minor roads also lead along the west side of the lake, and up the Newlands Pass to Buttermere.
- Parking: at Great Wood (CA12 5UP); Kettlewell (CA12 5UN); Bowderstone (CA12 5XA); Honister (CA12 5XN); Seatoller (CA12 5XN); Ashness Bridge (CA12 5UN); Surprise View (CA12 5UU). Watendlath (CA12 5UW) or grid ref. NY275163; Rosthwaite (CA12 5XB).
- On foot
- We've created a network of easy and moderate waymarked trails starting from the Keswick Lakeside shop and from Great Wood car park, ranging from ½ mile to 1¾ miles
Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Opening times
Monday 15 August
- Countryside Open all day
Tuesday 16 August
- Countryside Open all day
Wednesday 17 August
- Countryside Open all day
Thursday 18 August
- Countryside Open all day
Friday 19 August
- Countryside Open all day
Saturday 20 August
- Countryside Open all day
Sunday 21 August
- Countryside Open all day
Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01768774649
- NorthandWestLakes@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- near Keswick, Cumbria