Keswick, Great Britain
England’s lovely Lake District is a beautiful place that has inspired poets and painters from Wordsworth, Keats, and Shelley to Beatrix Potter. Roughly 35 square miles in area, most of the region is now a part of Lakes District National Park.
Few places are more scenic. And the lakes, valleys and mountains provide lots of opportunities for hiking, boating, biking, golfing, and fishing.
An old market town that was chartered in 1276, Keswick makes a great base for exploring the National Park. It’s on the shore of Derwentwater, one of the loveliest of the lakes.
Keswick hotels offer a wide range of experiences, from staying in a stately manor house to enjoy the homey hospitality of a charming bed and breakfast.
Set in a 400-acre deer park on Lake Bassenthwaite, Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa has 43 rooms, including one with its own roof terrace. The house dates from the 16th century and curling up by the fire in the huge, wood-paneled main hall is the perfect way to top off a long walk by the lake. It’s one of the most expensive hotels in Keswick, but it’s a splurge you’ll remember.
The recently opened spa has ten treatment rooms, a swimming pool, an indoor waterfall, a hydrotherapy zone, and a tranquility room that overlooks the gardens and outdoor hot tub. The Armathwaite offers countless distractions — from skeet shooting to tooling around the estate in a Landrover Defender or a Honda quad bike. An expert fisherman gives lessons and you can go for a picnic lunch in a vintage Bentley or Rolls Royce.
Keswick Countryside
Chef Kevin Dowling makes the most of local ingredients like trout and venison in the dining room. Reservations are essential and smart attire is required. This is a British Automobile Association five-star hotel. Make reservations at Armathwaite Hall.
The Lodore Falls Hotel was built 200 years ago using the traditional Lakeland slate. It has one of the best locations of all the Lake District hotels. There are views of Derwentwater from the main rooms and dining room, and it’s a short stroll to the lake and Lodore Falls, which tumble more than 100 feet down a rocky ravine.
Derwent Water
The more expensive rooms have lake views; others overlook the falls. There’s a boat launch on the lake and guests of the hotel can play at the Keswick Golf Club free on weekdays. With an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, squash court, and gym, there’s plenty to do. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge, as are traditional dishes like fish and chips and bangers and mash. The restaurant often features local beef and fish. Reserve a room at Lake District Hotels.
Derwent Lodge, overlooking Skiddaw mountain and Cat Bells, is a three-star, country house hotel about 1.5 miles from Keswick. The Georgian manor house was built in 1780, and the 1.7-acre grounds front the lake. The eight rooms here were recently redone and include free broadband Internet access and flat-screen TVs. Light meals and dinner are served in the lounge, but the terrace overlooking the lake is more enjoyable. Water sports rentals are available at the marina adjoining the property. If you want easy lake access, Derwent Lodge is the best Kewsick accommodation. Reservations can be made at Derwent Lodge Hotel.
The Grange Country Guest house is one of the most delightful bed and breakfasts in Keswick. The Victorian house, which dates from 1850, was originally a private home, and the owners have worked to retain many of the original features. There are ten rooms, each with private bath, and most of the rooms look out over the fells. You can have a drink in the bar or on the terrace. Breakfast includes locally farmed bacon, sausage, free-range eggs, fruit, and baked goods. Wifi access and free parking are two other pluses. For more information, visit Grange Keswick.
The Edwardene is another nice bed and breakfast that’s a five-minute walk to Keswick’s market square. It’s close to restaurant, pubs, and shopping, but away from the noise. The innkeepers here get high marks for helpfulness and filling breakfasts, and the 11 cozy rooms are nicely decorated and provide good value for money. For reservations or information, go to Edwardene Hotel.
Read more Great Britain travel articles here.
Keswick image Flickr photo: Mike__Lawrence
Keswick Field image Flickr photo: Katherine_Davis
Derwent Water image Flickr photo: A Brief Moment in Time
