By Car
The nearest junction serving the North Lakes from either the North or South is J40 of the M6.
From the South, for a scenic route through the Lake District, you can leave the M6 at J36 and take the A591 via Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. After dark, a better choice is to leave at J40 and take the A66.
The AA Route planner and RAC Route Planner are an excellent way to plan your route to Keswick.
By Train and Bus
Penrith, Carlisle and Kendal are served by fast, frequent services from all over the country. The nearest railway station to Keswick is Penrith, on the West Coast Main Line, a distance of 17 miles. A bus service, taking forty minutes, connects Penrith railway station with Keswick Bus Station. Taxis from Keswick will meet trains at Penrith by prior arrangement.
The historic Settle to Carlisle line brings passengers from Yorkshire via the Eden Valley.
The West Coast line is operated by Virgin Trains.
Check out train times with the Trainline.
National Express Rapide Services from London Victoria to the Lake District take approximately 6 1/2 hours. |
Cumbria County Council Downloadable Bus Timetables |
National Express Coaches On-line booking is available.
Cumbria4Coaches – Cumbria Tourist Board’s newly redesigned and dedicated website for Group Organisers, Coach & Tour Operators and UK Travel Trade members.
With a timetable and a little planning you can reach very many places by bus. As walkers you can use the bus to complete a linear walk without the necessity of having to return to where you left the car. You can step on a bus to explore the beauty of Borrowdale or cross the Honister Pass for the breath-taking views of Buttermere and Crummock Water, returning to Keswick through the gentle Vale of Lorton and over the Whinlatter Pass with its Visitor Centre and Osprey CCTV screens. The Osprey outdoor viewpoint above Mirehouse is only a few minutes bus ride from Keswick. Alternatively you can follow beneath the Helvellyn chain to Grasmere, then to Ambleside, Windermere and beyond to Kendal. Often this ride will be by double decker – the scenery is better from the top deck than from the back seat of the car. The market town of Cockermouth and the fell village of Caldbeck are also accessible by bus.
Penrith to Workington – Service X4 X5
This service runs from Penrith bus station via Penrith railway station to Keswick and then continues to Cockermouth and Workington. It also services the villages of Threlkeld, Thornthwaite, Bassenthwaite and Embleton.
View Penrith to Workington Timetable
Lakeslink – Service 554, 555, 556
This service runs from Lancaster to Carlisle via Kendal, Windermere railway station, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick.
The Osprey Bus, Keswick to Mirehouse/ Dodd Wood – Service 74
The green way to see the Bassenthwaite ospreys, the Osprey Bus will take you on a journey to explore Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding area.
View The Osprey Bus Timetable »
The Honister Rambler – Service 77/77A
This bus service operates in both clockwise and anti clockwise directions taking in Portinscale, Catbells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Slate Mine, Buttermere, Lorton and Whinlatter Forest.
View Honister Rambler Timetable »
The Caldbeck Rambler – Service 73/73A
The Caldbeck Rambler is a circular route from Keswick to Caldbeck. Service 73 runs via Applethwaite, Mirehouse and Dodd Wood, Bassenthwaite village, Uldale and Ireby to Caldbeck and returns to Keswick via Hesket Newmarket, Mungrisdale, Threlkeld and Castlerigg Stone Circle. Service 73A operates the same route in reverse.
View Caldbeck Rambler Timetable »
The Borrowdale Rambler – Service 78
This service runs from Keswick to Seatoller via Derwentwater Lakeshore, Lodore, Grange in Borrowdale and Rosthwaite.
View Borrowdale Rambler Timetable »
Keswick to Patterdale Ullswater Connexion – Service 208
Funded by the Friends of the Lake District this service runs from Keswick to Patterdale via Aira Force and the village of Glenridding.
By Plane
Manchester Airport offers convenient access to the whole of the UK. Manchester serves more domestic destinations than any UK airport which, together with its first class road and rail link make it an ideal gateway to Cumbria. With its own rail station efficient 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas and Boxing Day.
Birmingham International Airport is also within easy reach of Keswick.
If you are flying into any other airport such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen you can get useful information from the B.A.A. web site by clicking here.
If you would like to arrange car hire from the airport to Keswick please contact Keswick Motor Co on +44 (0)1768 773263. who can arrange this for you.
By Bike
Your bicycle, or one hired locally, is an excellent way to explore the area. Several long distance cycle routes pass through the area, notably the C2C 71. Some stretches of these routes have alternatives so that you can, for example, ride out from Keswick through Threlkeld almost to Penrith and back along The Old Coach Road to St John’s in the Vale and so back to Keswick For the family the old railway line route from Keswick to Threlkeld is an excellent choice.
