Lake District

Accessible walk to Broomhill Point viewpoint

A group including a wheel chair user stopping at Broomhill point to take in the view on a sunny winter's day — Stopping to take in the view at Broomhill point | © Melinda Gilhen-Baker

A stile-free out-and back route along the Derwent Water foreshore to the viewpoint at Broomhill Point, with views over the water to Cat Bells and Causey Pike. Choice of two routes at Strandshag bay, one with a smooth compact surface and one closer to the lake with some boulders, tree roots and muddy patches.

Near to

Borrowdale and Derwent Water

Start point

Keswick Lakeside Car Park, Grid Ref: NY265229 what3Words ///waltzed.sideburns.cases, Postcode: CA12 5DJ

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.75 (km: 4.4)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 2.5 (km: 4)

Duration1 hour 20 mins to 2 hours 10 mins

Dog friendly***

*The route starts and ends with a 7% gradient on tarmac from/to the car park, includes a cattle grid and a 16% gradient on rough bumpy surface. Otherwise all gradients are less than 15%. For further details, please see Terrain section
**This out-and-back walk starts from Keswick Lakeside carpark (what3Words ///waltzed.sideburns.cases), and includes tarmac lakeshore promenade before venturing out on paths through sheep fields with variable surfaces – including a recycled plastic boardwalk that’s 2m wide. For further details please see section marked Access.
***Please note this route crosses a field grazed by sheep, please keep dogs under close control, especially at lambing time. For further details please see section marked Facilities.

Cattle grid

This route includes one cattle grid. The pedestrian gate beside the cattle grid is narrow and opens one way. The gate is 39 inches (1m) wide. The narrowest gap is 35 inches (89cm).

Address
Keswick Lakeside carpark, Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5DJ, (what3Words ///waltzed.sideburns.cases) 
Directions via Google Maps
By bus
Keswick Bus station is 0.6 miles from Keswick Lakeside carpark on step-free routes. The 78 Borrowdale Bus stops at Daleview Hotel which is 0.3 miles from Keswick Lakeside carpark on step-free routes. 
Borrowdale 78 bus
By road
Keswick Lakeside carpark, Lake Road, Keswick, CA12 5DJ. (what3Words ///waltzed.sideburns.cases) 
Keswick Lakeside carpark
Dogs
This is a popular route with dog walkers, with opportunities for dogs to swim in the lake. Please note that the field at Strandshag Bay is grazed by sheep, please keep dogs under close control, especially at lambing time.
Car park
Keswick Lakeside carpark is not National Trust. It is pay and display. There are 14 disabled parking spaces (charges apply). Coin, contactless card or pay by phone accepted.
Toilet
There are toilets, including an accessible toilet, in the car park, which are pay to enter (coin or contactless card payments accepted)
Café
There is a café and a coffee takeaway at the start/end of the circular route. Theatre by the Lake café has step-free access, automatic door and indoor seating. The coffee takeaway has step-free access and outdoor seating only.
Parking: 14 disabled parking spaces in Keswick Lakeside carpark (parking charges apply) Toilet: One Accessible toilet in Keswick Lakeside Carpark accessed via RADAR key or coins.   Gradients: This route includes a downhill gradient of 7% from the car park to the lake on tarmac. The route returns up this gradient to the car park. There is also a descent and climb of 16% on rougher surface before the viewpoint  Gates: There are four gates on route. Two are 4ft (1.2m) two-way opening gates, one is 4ft (1.2m) one-way opening towards you, and one is 35 inches (89cm) one-way opening away from you. Surfaces: The path surface for most of the walk is smooth compacted surface with one short stretch of cobbles. There are two long sections of recycled plastic boardwalk with tapping rails. There is one cattlegrid. Optional routes: There’s an optional extension to the viewpoint at Friar’s Crag. The paths there are narrow – narrowest point is 2’10” (87cm) – with vegetation, fence rails and steep drops creating tight turning spaces At Strandshag Bay, there is the option to stick closer to the lakeshore at but the surface on this option includes small boulders, potholes, tree routes, loose gravel and short muddy sections. 
Designated parking
There are 14 designated disabled parking spaces at Keswick Lakeside carpark with hatched areas on both sides. They are on a sideways slope. Parking charges apply.
Accessible toilet
One Accessible toilet in Keswick Lakeside carpark accessed via RADAR key or coins
Seating available
There are 28 benches between steps 1 – 6 of the trail. Then there are no benches until the one at step 10.
Steps/uneven terrain
There are short stretches of uneven surface. At Step 2 there is a 11yds (10m) stretch of cobbles. At Step 3 there is 16yds (15m) section of uneven surface. At Step 8 there is a descent and climb on a rough surface for 78 yds (72m). At Step 9 there is a section for 46yds (42m) of level path with exposed tree roots leading to the bench
There is one cattlegrid with a narrow (35inch / 89cm) one-way gate. There are two steep gradients: one to/from the car park – 7% on tarmac, and one closer to the viewpoint – 16% on rough surface. Apart from that, this is a lakeshore route with gentle undulations and all on established paths with a minimum width of 1m.  
The route starts on tarmac along the promenade, the moves onto paths through fields, mostly with a smooth compact surface with some rougher patches. There is a recycled plastic boardwalk which is 2m wide with tapping rails. The total ascent is approximately 40m. 
Accessible trail to Broomhill Point viewpoint elevation | © National Trust
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
Keswick Lakeside Car Park, Grid Ref: NY265229 what3Words ///waltzed.sideburns.cases, Postcode: CA12 5DJ
Stage 1
Start from Keswick Lakeside carpark. Exit the carpark onto Lake Road past Theatre by the Lake. Continue down the tarmac for 164yds (150m) to the lake.
The slope from the car park to the lake | © Jessie Binns
Stage 2
At the bottom of the slope on the left, there is a map panel showing this route and others, beside the Moon and Sixpence coffee shop. Carry straight on along the road along the promenade for 273yds (250m), ignoring three entrances to the left into the woods.
Derwent Water foreshore promenade - cobbles outside Moon & Sixpence | © Jessie Binns
Stage 3
There is another downhill gradient 5% towards where the tarmac ends. Take the National Trust path and continue for 164yds (150m) until you get to the fork. 
Uneven surface before National Trust path starts | © Jessie Binns
Stage 4
At the fork you have a choice: You can turn right for the optional 273yds (250m) out-and-back to the famous viewpoint of Friar’s Crag. Alternatively you can turn left for the two alternative routes around Strandshag Bay (skip to step 5).
Tight turning area | © Jessie Binne
Stage 5
There are two options for Strandshag Bay. The upper path is via the 4ft (1.2m) two-way gate visible immediately as you take the left fork. This path is 4ft (1.2m) wide with a smooth compacted surface, two benches, and a 16yd (15m) stretch of wooden boardwalk covered in avian wire.  The upper and lower paths meet up again after 390yds (360m) on the far side of the bay beside a fallen tree. This field is grazed by sheep.
Rough surface on lower path
The lower path is accessed via the 3’6” (106cm) one-way gate which opens away from you at the bottom of the slope. This path stays closer to the lake but suffers storm damage in winter and has small boulders, tree roots, loose gravel and short muddy sections. There is one bench where the paths meet up again. The lower path can become submerged when lake levels are high.
Uneven path surface on the lower path at Strandshag Bay | © Jessie Binns
Stage 6
Where the paths meet up again there is a bench – this is the last bench on this route until you get to Broomhill Point viewpoint. Go straight ahead through the gate into the woodlands over the bridge onto the boardwalk. The gate is 4ft (1.2m) and is two-way opening. The bridge is 1.5m wide the boardwalk is 2m wide with a tapping rail on both edges. Continue along the two stretches of boardwalk to the T junction
Boardwalk through Ings Wood | © Jessie Binns
Stage 7
At the end of the 2nd boardwalk, turn right and climb the gentle incline up to the main track (12% gradient). Keep right along the main track – it is sign posted to the Lake. This track is used by vehicles. There are many potholes. You’ll come to a cattle grid with a narrow pedestrian gate.
Cattlegrid and narrow gate | © Jessie Binns
Stage 8
After the cattle grid, the track slopes downhill (12% Gradient) then climbs an uphill 16% gradient. There are small boulders protruding from the surface the surface can be muddy after rain. It also turns a corner on an adverse camber. At the fork keep left away from the houses. Then the path follows the fence line at the edge of the field with views out over the lake. The path is 2m wide with a smooth compact surface with sudden muddy patches.
Gradient with rough surface | © Jessie Binns
Stage 9
At the gate, go straight through the gate. This gate is a one way opening gate that opens towards you with a pull handle. It is a 4 foot (1.2m) gate. Climb the gentle incline to the yew trees (less than 4% gradient). At the fork in the path keep straight on the path is level but has some exposed tree roots and it leads you to the semi-circular bench at Broomhill Point viewpoint.
One Way Gate before viewpoint | © Jessie Binns
Stage 10
The most accessible route back from the viewpoint is to retrace your steps back to the car park. The route which continues from here around Calf Close Bay is badly eroded by winter storms, and includes deep muddy patches, deep shingle and gravel, tree roots and debris and a 40% gradient. You could descend to view the 100 Year Stone sculpture which is 87 yds (80m) further on from the viewpoint down a 20% gradient. The sculpture is only accessible via a shingle gravel beach and is submerged when lake levels are high. (NB Look Out For – see below)
Broomhill Point viewpoint | © Jessie Binns
End point
Broomhill Point viewpoint, Grid Ref: NY267215 What3Words ///wished.column.output Postcode: CA12 5DL
Trail map
Map of the accessible trail to Broomhill Point viewpoint | © Crown copyright and database rights 2024 Ordnance Survey
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