Round Derwent Water from Keswick

The walk starts from the Lakeside car park by the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick and goes clockwise round the lake. It passes the launch piers and Friar's Crag, follows the shore by Strandshag Bay and Broomhill Point to Calfclose Bay, where the National Trust's Centenary Stone stands, then runs south past Barrow Bay and Kettlewell to Lodore. Boardwalks and the Chinese Bridge cross the marshes at the head of the lake. The return goes through Manesty and Brandelhow Park on the quiet west shore, past Hawes End, and over the suspension footbridge at Portinscale back into Keswick.

It is 15.0 km with 173 m of ascent; allow about 4¼ hours. The grade is Moderate: it is long but almost level.

The paths are good; at the south end boardwalks cross marshy ground, so keep to them, and short stretches follow or cross the Borrowdale road and lanes near Hawes End and Portinscale. Expect cattle in some fields. The Keswick launch calls at landing stages round the lake, so the walk can be cut short by boat.

The Lakeside car park charges a fee.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.