Keswick (a pretty mountain Lake District town)
Keswick is a pretty market town sitting below mountains in a less touristy area of the Cumbria’s Lake District. Though it still rains a lot! In the northern end, it has a history connected to poets, and has a weekly food market that has run for 700 years!
Keswick sits near the lake of Derwentwater, which is far quieter than Lake Windermere. Known as the ‘queen of the lakes’, it’s 3 miles long, bordered by Keswick and Borrowdale, and is a pretty shallow lake. Home to England’s rarest freshwater fish (vendace) and a relic of the Ice Age (a conservation priority so illegal to fish).
St Herbert’s Hermitage is named after a 7th century hermit who lived here, and it’s said died on the same day as his friend Saint Cuthbert (who has strong links to County Durham and Northumberland).
St Herbert’s Island was inspiration for Owl Island in Beatrix Potter’s book The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. The only inhabited island with just one house is Derwent Island, now owned by the National Trust). There is also a floating island, made from gases from decomposing vegetation that lift to the surface.
The name ‘Derwent’ means ‘river with oak trees’.
Acorns and conkers should also be kept away from pets. Did you know that oak trees are toxic to horses, livestock and other animals?
Catbells and Latrigg (local mountains)
Latrigg is a Lake District fell near Keswick (often called ‘Skiddaw’s little brother’), offering panoramic views of Derwentwater, Skiddaw and the Borrowdale valley. In 1887, over 2000 people walked to the top, to defend public access rights after a landowner tried to block paths (this is a similar story of how The Peak District park was formed back in 1951).
The woodland areas have many mixed forests and hazelnut trees, proof that when the right mix of trees are planted, red squirrels thrive (culling greys is not the answer, working with nature is).
Catbells is a ‘mini-mountain’ with views of Derwentwater and surrounding peaks (it’s known to be one of the easier mountains to climb, but still take care as there are rock scrambles and gaps. It’s thought to be named after ‘shelter for wild cats’, who lived here centuries ago. Wainwright loved this walk.
Just four miles from Keswick, it’s a popular day out.
Always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and toxic plants/trees) and on leads near birds, barnyard friends and wild ponies.
How to upright an overturned sheep
Pregnant sheep (and sometimes due to wool waterlogged from rain) can sometimes roll over onto their backs, and can’t get back upright, due to having four stomach chambers (so will die if not turned back upright).
If you see a sheep on its back, just firmly right it back, then stay with it, until rain has drained off, so it won’t happen again. Then inform your local farmer.
