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Walks from Keswick

19 routes and 10 fells within about 5 km of Keswick, nearest first. Five walks start within 1 km of the town, among them Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell from Keswick (12.53 km) and Friar's Crag & the Derwentwater shore (4.22 km). Each fell carries today’s conditions and the bus where there is one. Planning the trip? See the full Keswick guide for parking, buses and where to stay.

Starting in Keswick

Five routes start within 1 km of the centre of Keswick in a straight line, nearer Keswick than any other town or village.

Effort is the size of the day, from the distance and the climb; each route’s own page grades the steepness, navigation, exposure and ground underfoot, and names the hardest.

• Walla Crag and Bleaberry Fell from Keswick →Start 0 km away12.53 km~658 m~3½–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Keswick, Central Car Park (paid) · Bus: 555 at the startA proper fell day that starts and finishes on foot from Keswick — no car needed. Walla Crag gives one of the great Derwentwater views for very little effort; Bleaberry Fell behind it is a rougher, boggier proposition. Together they make a satisfying half-day horseshoe straight out of the town.Terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; not walked yet.
• Friar's Crag & the Derwentwater shore →Start 0.3 km away4.22 km~43 m~¾–1¼ hModerate: navigation🏞️ Easy & familyPlannedPark: Keswick Rugby Club car park (paid) · Bus: 554 at the startAn almost-level lakeshore stroll from Keswick to Friar's Crag — Ruskin's favourite view down Derwentwater to the Jaws of Borrowdale — on surfaced paths.
• Ashness Bridge & Surprise View →Start 0.5 km away13.43 km~322 m~3–4½ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: Lakeside long stay car park, Keswick (paid) · Bus: 78, 350 m walk from Keswick, outside Daleview HotelA circular of about 13.4 km (8.3 miles) from Keswick along the eastern shore of Derwentwater taking in the iconic Ashness Bridge and the Surprise View over the lake. Mostly low-level (it passes below Walla Crag, not over it).
• Latrigg, Little Man, Sale & Cumbria Way Section →Start 0.6 km away18.15 km~971 m~5¼–7 hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessPlannedPark: Keswick Old Station, hotel car park (paid) · Bus: 509, 450 m walk from Keswick, at Greta Bank
• The full circuit of Derwentwater from Keswick →Start 0.7 km away14.38 km~103 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Hard: distancePlannedPark: Lakeside long stay car park, Keswick (paid) · Bus: 78, 530 m walk from Keswick, outside Daleview HotelA loop of about 14.4 km right round Derwentwater from the Keswick landing stages, with about 100 m of climbing: south along the east shore past Friar's Crag to Lodore, over the River Derwent on a footbridge at the head of the lake, north along the west shore past Brandelhow and Hawes End to Portinscale, and back into Keswick through the town.

More walking routes within about 5 km

• Up to Skiddaw Round Trip →Start 2.4 km away12.01 km~849 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Latrigg car park (free) · Bus: 555, 2.6 km walk from Keswick, at Latrigg CloseA compact way onto Skiddaw over Lonscale Fell — 12 km and 849 m — keeping off the tourist path for most of the climb. Burnt Horse Ridge is steep and often wet underfoot, the summit plateau is fully exposed to whatever the weather is doing, and the return is a sustained 527 m descent on stone and gravel.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 30%; the steepest descent, about 31% over 250 m. Exposure and terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Lonscale Fell (14 June 2026) and Skiddaw (13 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
• Lonscale Fell, Skiddaw Lesser Man, Skiddaw and Bakestall in the sun! →Start 2.4 km away19.25 km~1118 m~5½–7¾ hHard effort Hard: distance, steepness and terrainWalked June 2025Park: Latrigg car park (free) · Bus: 554, 2.5 km walk from Keswick, opposite The PheasantSkiddaw the long way, taking in Lonscale Fell and Bakestall: 19.3 km and 1,118 m, with a pull averaging 22% from Lesser Man onto Little Man and loose slate underfoot high up. The plateau is open to the wind. The easy exposure grade is for the walking line, but the route visits Lonscale Pike, which sits right on the edge of the crags above Glenderaterra, so keep well back there. From Bakestall it is 9.7 km out, with 213 m of climbing still in it.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 29%. Exposure and terrain: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Lonscale Fell (14 June 2026) and Skiddaw (13 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
• Latrigg →Start 2.4 km away2.48 km~106 m~½–1 hEasy: distance, steepness and navigation🏞️ Easy & familyWalked in partPark: Latrigg car park (free) · Bus: 554, 2.6 km walk from Keswick, opposite The PheasantThe little fell on Keswick's doorstep with an outsized view — a short pull from the Gale Road car park to a grassy top looking straight down on the town, Derwentwater and the Borrowdale fells.
• Catbells: the short way up →Start 2.9 km away5.67 km~407 m~1¾–2½ hEasy effort Hard: steepnessWalked May 2026Park: Skelgill Bank, north car park · Bus: 77 at the startThe friendliest big view in the Lakes. Under 6 km from Hawes End to the shapely little summit above Derwentwater and back — short enough for an afternoon, steep enough to feel like a proper fell, and reachable without a car by launch across the lake or, in season, the bus from Keswick.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 31%.
• Catbells, Maiden Moor & High Spy →Start 2.9 km away12.59 km~726 m~3½–5 hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked May 2026Park: Skelgill Bank, north car park · Bus: 77 at the startA ridge walk above the western shore of Derwentwater: from Hawes End over Catbells and Maiden Moor to High Spy, 12.6 km and 726 m. The pull onto Catbells is short and steep, about 36% over its steepest 250 m, with rocky steps where you may want your hands, and they are slippery when wet. High Spy has steep crags on both sides, so keep to the crest in wind or cloud. The ridge path is clear in good weather, but carry a map and compass for the cloud. The reward is Derwentwater and the Newlands valley below you the whole way.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 29%. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Cat Bells (Catbells) (13 June 2026), Maiden Moor (14 June 2026) and High Spy (14 June 2026); they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
• Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell, High Seat, High Tove and Armboth Fell →Start 3.1 km away17.02 km~812 m~4¾–6½ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessWalked August 2025Park: Walla Crag car park (free) · Bus: 78 at the startThe long boggy ridge south from Keswick: five tops in 17 km with 812 m of climbing, hard for length and steepness. Beyond Bleaberry Fell the ground is wet and knolly with a faint path, and in mist it is easy to drift off line, so bring a map and compass and be ready to use them. The easy exposure grade is for the walking line. Walla Crag's summit edge is a steep, unfenced drop, so keep back from the lip. About 4¾–6½ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 26%. Exposure, terrain and navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 24 September 2026.
• Scar Crags, Causey Pike →Start 3.3 km away12.16 km~848 m~3¾–5¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) · Bus: 77 at the startBarrow, Outerside, Scar Crags, Causey Pike and Rowling End above Newlands — five tops in 12.2 km with 848 m of climbing. Hard for terrain, navigation and exposure, severe for steepness; about 3¾–5¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 42%. Exposure, terrain and navigation: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Ard Crags & Knott Rigg →Start 3.3 km away19.31 km~708 m~5–6¾ hHard effort Hard: distance and steepnessPlannedOne-way: finishes at Keswick · Start: Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) · Bus: 77 at the start
• Stile End, Outerside, Causey Pike, Rowling End →Start 3.4 km away10.08 km~692 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Severe: steepnessWalked in partPark: Braithwaite village (roadside/small areas) · Bus: 77 at the startFour small Newlands tops in 10.1 km, though 692 m of ascent packed into that makes it steeper than the distance suggests, with one stage averaging 16%. Both the terrain and the exposure are rated hard along Causey Pike's knobbly crest. About 3–4¼ hours.Measured from the GPX track: the distance; the steepest sustained descent, about 42%. Exposure and terrain: our judgement from the map and the route’s record; that stretch not walked. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Coledale Round →Start 3.9 km away16.13 km~1277 m~5¼–7¼ hSevere effort Hard: distance, steepness, navigation and exposureWalked May 2026Park: Kinn car park · Bus: 77, 720 m walk from Braithwaite, at Croft TerraceOne of the great north-western horseshoes, and a properly big mountain day from Braithwaite. From the little car park tucked behind the trees on the Whinlatter Pass road — or straight off the bus — a steady wake-up climb leads up over Kinn and Sleet How before Grisedale Pike shows its hand: a steep, craggy pull the map never quite warns you about, with hands needed on rock near the top. From its rocky summit the round opens out — the airy ridge over Hobcarton Crag to Hopegill Head's tiny, wind-blown perch, the broad sweep to Crag Hill and Sail, then a long, satisfying horseshoe back over the tops of Outerside, Stile End and Barrow. Six Wainwrights, a handful of Birkett tops, and some of the best ridge-walking in the Lakes for the effort.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained climb, about 32%. Exposure: graded by Lee on the ground. Hazard notes checked by Lee McCoy: Grisedale Pike (14 June 2026), Hopegill Head (14 June 2026), Crag Hill (Eel Crag) (14 June 2026) and 1 more; they draw on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team.
• Maiden Moor and High Spy →Start 4.5 km away10.16 km~653 m~3–4¼ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessPlannedPark: unnamed layby south-east of Cat Bells · Bus: 77, 910 m walk from Brandelhow Park (outside)A loop of about 10.2 km from a layby on the lane below Cat Bells, with about 650 m of climbing: up the public bridleway from Manesty to Hause Gate, south along the ridge over Maiden Moor to High Spy, then steeply down a public footpath past Nitting Haws and back along the lanes past Manesty.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 32%.
• Watendlath & the packhorse bridge →Start 4.6 km away10.33 km~298 m~2½–3½ hModerate effort Hard: steepnessWalked in partPark: Surprise View (NT) (paid) · Bus: 78 at the startA roughly 6.4-mile Borrowdale loop up to the hidden hamlet of Watendlath, its tarn and the much-photographed packhorse bridge, returning down the valley. A satisfying low-level half-day with one steep descent of about 33% over 250 m near the end.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest descent, about 33% over 250 m.
• High Rigg →Start 4.6 km away3.62 km~221 m~1–1½ hEasy effort Moderate: steepnessWalked April 2026Out and back · Park: St John's in the Vale verge, High Rigg (free) · Bus: 509, 2.3 km walk from Threlkeld West End (near)A round of 1–1½ hours over Naddle Fell, and a great deal of view for 221 m of climbing — with one steep pull near the top and a stretch of pathless ground to keep it honest.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 21%. Navigation: graded by Lee on the ground. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.
• Threlkeld Knotts & Clough Head →Start 4.7 km away11.2 km~803 m~3½–5 hModerate effort Severe: steepnessPlannedPark: St John's in the Vale verge, High Rigg (free) · Bus: 509, 2.4 km walk from Threlkeld West End (near)Clough Head is the northern full stop of the Dodds, and this takes it with Threlkeld Knotts and Calfhow Pike. 11.2 km, 803 m, and a 16% stage that does most of the climbing early on. Severe for steepness. Around 3½–5 hours.Measured from the GPX track: the steepest sustained descent, about 48%. Summary checked by Lee McCoy, 26 August 2026.

Fells within about 5 km

• Latrigg →1.8 km away369 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusDecent · 60 · rated on 27 OctoberDryLatrigg at 369m (1,211ft) is the little fell above Keswick, its summit giving one of the finest and most accessible viewpoints of Derwent Water and the surrounding fells in the whole Lake District.
• Walla Crag →2.4 km away379 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsWalla Crag at 379m (1,243ft) is the great rocky escarpment above Derwent Water, its summit giving one of the finest aerial views of the lake in the whole district.
• Lonscale Fell →4.2 km away715 m~3½–4½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsLonscale Fell at 715m (2,346ft) is the eastern shoulder of Skiddaw above the River Glenderaterra, giving fine views of the Blencathra massif and east across the Northern Fells.
• Cat Bells (Catbells) →4.2 km away451 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCat Bells is one of Alfred Wainwright's great favourites, and his fondness for it shines through in The North-Western Fells — he saw it as a family fell, approachable enough for grandparents and young children to climb together, yet rewarding with shapely, sun-warmed slopes and a genuinely striking position above Derwent Water.
• Barrow →4.2 km away455 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBarrow at 455m (1,493ft) is a small, grassy summit above Braithwaite, giving one of the finest views of the Coledale valley and the Causey Pike ridge for its modest height.
• Skiddaw Little Man →4.3 km away865 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsSkiddaw Little Man at 865m (2,838ft) is the subsidiary summit on the Skiddaw ridge south of the main top, often climbed with Skiddaw but a separate fell in its own right.
• Bleaberry Fell →4.3 km away590 m~2½–3 h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsBleaberry Fell at 590m (1,936ft) is a broad, heathery summit above the east side of Derwent Water, giving one of the finest aerial views of the lake in the whole district.
• Dodd (Skiddaw) →4.4 km away502 m~2–2½ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsDodd at 502m (1,647ft) is the prominent wooded cone above Bassenthwaite Lake, its open summit — above the Dodd Wood forest — giving a fine view down onto Bassenthwaite Lake.
• High Rigg (Naddle Fell) →4.5 km away356 m~1½–2 h🚌 BusDecent · 58 · rated on 27 OctoberDryHigh Rigg at 356m (1,167ft) is a delightful, craggy ridge above St John's in the Vale — a pleasant low-level walk in the Central Fells, its heathery knolls giving fine views of Blencathra, Helvellyn and the Vale of St John from multiple viewpoints.
• Carl Side →4.8 km away747 m~3½–4¼ h🚌 BusSave it · 20 · rated on 27 OctoberToo windy for the topsCarl Side at 747m (2,450ft) is the prominent shoulder of Skiddaw above Millbeck, its summit giving excellent views across Bassenthwaite Lake and north to Scotland on clear days.

2 of the fells here are rated good to climb on 27 October — see live conditions →
A prediction from our daily fell score, not a guarantee — always check the mountain forecast before you go. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (opens in new tab).

Distances are straight-line from the centre of Keswick — ‘within ~5 km’ means as the crow flies, not that the walk necessarily starts there. Always plan your own route and check the bus before you travel.