Borrowdale and Derwentwater

Derwentwater is often called the 'Queen of the Lakes', and as you canoe between the islands with your picnic at the ready it's easy to see why. The friendly staff at our shop and information centre on the Keswick Foreshore will help you out with local knowledge about canoeing, interesting things to see and walks to do.

At the south end of Derwentwater, the boardwalk across the wetlands makes the 9-mile circular walk around the lake a very pleasant leg stretch, with the chance to see otters and wetland birds if you're lucky. The jewel in the crown is Derwent Island House, open for five special days each year, as does Force Crag Mine - a hidden gem at the foot of a waterfall in the Coledale valley.

As Borrowdale winds the 7 miles from Keswick to Seathwaite, there are eight National Trust car parks from which you can start your adventure into the fells. Directions for iconic routes like Castle Crag and Cat Bells are in our Rangers' Guide to Borrowdale on sale from our shop and from our membership recruiters with their trusty Landrovers.