Spectacular and varied lakeland landscape around Derwent Water
Whatever the winter weather, make the most of it with our top recommendations for great winter walks around Keswick
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. The friendly staff at our shop and information centre on the Keswick Foreshore will help you out with local knowledge about interesting things to see and walks to do.
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, as does Force Crag Mine - a hidden gem at the foot of a waterfall in Coledale near Braithwaite.
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. Directions for iconic routes like Castle Crag and Cat Bells are in our Rangers' Guide to Borrowdale on sale from our shop and from our membership recruiters with their trusty Landrovers.
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:
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.
For open days at Derwent Island House and Force Crag Mine, check 'What's On' page online.
