Keswick & Derwent Valley

Keswick sits on the northern shore of Derwentwater in Cumberland, at the mouth of Borrowdale and below Skiddaw. The Derwent Valley runs north from Derwentwater, carrying the River Derwent past the town toward Bassenthwaite Lake. Boats cross Derwentwater to small islands such as St Herbert's, and paths lead from the town into the valley and onto fells like Cat Bells and Skiddaw. The lakeshore, rivers and wooded gorge of Borrowdale form a connected landscape used for walking, fishing and boating rather than large-scale development.

The town includes a long-established market, independent shops, and cultural venues including the Theatre by the Lake and the Derwent Pencil Museum, which records the area's pencil-making history. Local services support hillwalking and river activities: launches on Derwentwater, boat hire, and guided routes into Borrowdale and the surrounding fells. Historic features appear in stone buildings and the Moot Hall; slate and mining traces remain in the valley. Keswick and the Derwent Valley function as a base for exploring the immediate lake and river system, with clear links from town into the upland terrain.