Derwentwater Circular Walk From Keswick

Derwentwater is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lake District. And honestly, there is no better way to see it than to walk around its entire shoreline.

This Derwentwater circular walk loops all the way around the lake, following a mix of lakeside paths, woodland trails, quiet lanes, and raised boardwalks across the marshy southern shore. Along the way, you’ll pass famous viewpoints like Friar’s Crag, have constantly changing views of the surrounding fells, and even walk past a field of alpacas.

At 9.5 miles, it’s not exactly a short stroll, but the route is mostly flat and technically easy. There are plenty of bailout points via bus or ferry along the way if the distance does get too much.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly what to expect along the route and where to shorten it if needed.

🥾 Despite being a circular walk around Derwentwater, the route doesn’t stay directly beside the shoreline the entire time. In several places, the path briefly peels away from the lake to pass through woodland or follow quiet roads.

Walk overview & Logistics

Start/end: Can start anywhere on the route, but Keswick is a good shout

Distance: 9.5 miles (15.4 km)

Elevation gain: 352 metres (mostly flat with undulating sections)

Time: 4 – 4.5 hours

Difficulty: Technically easy, but moderate due to the length

Best for: Anyone looking for a low-level walk with a decent length

Map of the Derwentwater circular walk

For this Derwentwater circular walk, I’d suggest walking clockwise from Keswick. It means you do the busier northern stretch first, enjoy the quieter eastern and southern sections in the middle, and then finish with the western shore, which I personally think is the most beautiful part of the walk.

How to get to the start (Keswick)

Because this walk is circular, you can obviously begin anywhere on the route.

However, most people begin in Keswick for convenience. You can start right by the Keswick Launch, which is pretty much at the start of the lakeside path. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre.

If you need to park in Keswick, I recommend the Lakeside Car Park on Lake Road. It costs £7 – £9 per day to park here, depending on the season. Unfortunately, there’s very little reliable free parking in Keswick itself.

Step-by-step route breakdown

Keswick to Friar’s Crag

From the Keswick Launch sign, follow the obvious lakeside path south along the edge of Derwentwater. This first section is very easy walking, with wide gravel paths and constant views across the water.

You’ll soon reach Friar’s Crag, one of the most famous viewpoints in the Lake District. A short wooded path leads out onto the small promontory, where there’s a bench overlooking the lake towards Borrowdale.

This spot is particularly personal to me because my grandparents’ ashes are scattered here, so I always stop for a few minutes when I pass through. Even aside from the personal connection, I genuinely think it’s one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the area.

After leaving Friar’s Crag, continue on the lakeside path.

Along the eastern shore

The path becomes noticeably less busy as you leave Friar’s Crag behind. The route alternates between woodland trails, lakeside beaches, and paths that skirt alongside fields.

You’ll walk directly on the shoreline itself, over pebble beaches beside the water. It’s one of the more varied parts of the route, and the views across towards Catbells are gorgeous from here.

Eventually, the shoreline becomes too narrow to continue comfortably, so the path briefly leaves the lake and crosses the road before continuing through woodland. This section feels much more sheltered, with mossy trees, rocky outcrops, and occasional glimpses back through to the water.

You’ll emerge onto the road again near Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, which looks extremely luxurious tucked beneath the fells.

Continue following the road and lakeside path south until you eventually reach a gate leading onto the raised boardwalks at the southern tip of Derwentwater.

The southern marshes and boardwalks

I think this part of the walk has the most unique scenery.

At the southern tip of Derwentwater, the landscape becomes flat and marshy, and the route crosses wetlands on a series of raised wooden boardwalks and footbridges. In wetter weather, you’ll quickly understand why these exist. You absolutely would not want to step off the path here.

The views also change completely. Instead of open lake scenery, you’re surrounded by reeds, marshland, woodland, and wide views back up the valley towards Keswick.

The western shore beneath Catbells

The southwestern shore is easily my favourite part of the Derwentwater circular walk.

The path weaves through woodland but frequently returns to the lakeshore, with gorgeous uninterrupted views across the water towards Keswick and Skiddaw. Early on, you’ll also be able to see Catbells on your left as you walk.

You’ll pass several little jetties and beaches along the way, many of which make great picnic spots. On a calm day, the reflections across the water here are beautiful.

Brandelhow Bay to Portinscale

As you continue north, the route passes through more woodland and open grassy sections near Brandelhow Bay and Hawse End.

Eventually, you’ll begin heading towards Portinscale, where it starts feeling slightly more residential again.

As you get closer to the northern shore, keep an eye out for Alpacly Ever After. They run alpaca and llama trekking experiences, and you can often spot alpacas and llamas grazing in the field as you walk past.

You’ll then pass by Nichol End Marina, where there is a cafe and toilets, if needed.

Shortly afterwards, you’ll cross the suspension bridge into Portinscale.

Portinscale back to Keswick

The final stretch follows paths and quiet roads back to Keswick. You’ll pass through what I like to call “the sheep fields,” where you follow a packed gravel path flanked by fields of sheep on either side. It’s a lovely walk along here, especially in springtime when the fields are full of baby lambs.

You’ll cross the River Greta before re-entering town, where there are plenty of cafes, pubs, and bakeries waiting at the end. After almost 10 miles of walking, I always feel extremely justified in sitting down for a coffee and a nice meal.

Merienda, Jasper’s Coffee House, Chinty’s, and the Wild Strawberry are some of my favourite cafes in Keswick. The Wild Strawberry, in particular, does huge slices of cake. If you’d prefer to celebrate with a pub meal and a pint, I recommend The Wainwright or The Dog & Gun.

Shortening the walk

If the full Derwentwater circular walk feels a little too long, you’ll be pleased to know there are several places around the lake where you can get a bus or a jetty back to Keswick.

Along the eastern shore, the walking path repeatedly comes close to Borrowdale Road, where you can catch the 78 bus back to Keswick. Good bailout points include Lodore Falls, Kettlewell, and Barrow Bay.

The western shore is quieter and more isolated, without a road running directly beside the lake, so buses are much less convenient there. However, this side of Derwentwater is very well served by the Keswick Launch boats.

If you’re walking clockwise from Keswick, you’ll pass the launch jetties in this order:

• Ashness Gate
• Lodore
• High Brandelhow
• Low Brandelhow
• Hawse End
• Nichol End Marina

More Lake District inspiration

• Check out my roundup of the very best walks in the Lake District.
• Trying to decide where to stay? Here’s my guide on choosing where to base yourself in the Lakes.
• Spend four days hiking in the northern fells with my Keswick itinerary.
• My guide for the Ennerdale Water walk, another stunning lakeside route.
• My guide for hiking Catbells.

⛰️ Want even more? Visit my Lake District Hub to browse all my walking guides and planning tips.

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