Keswick is located in the heart of the Lake District and is the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the UK. Keswick is very accessible by all means of transport, meaning that you can consider the environment when planning your route to Keswick Mountain Festival.

Below we have provided information and useful links to help you find your way, whichever mode of transport you choose.

With a timetable, and a little planning, you can reach Keswick Mountain Festival and many other beautiful Lake District places by bus. If you are a walker, you can use the bus to complete a linear walk without the necessity of having to return to where you left the car. All bus fares in Cumbria are currently capped at £2 per journey, until December 2024

Stagecoach Download Bus Timetables

Penrith to Workington – Service X4, X5
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, Embleton and the Lakes Distillery.

Lakeslink – Service 554, 555
A lovely bus journey – the 554 service runs between Keswick and Carlisle via Mirehouse, Castle Inn, Bothel and Wigton. The 555 service runs between Lancaster and Keswick via Kendal, Windermere railway station, Ambleside and Grasmere.

The Honister Rambler – Service 77, 77A
Operates in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions taking in Portinscale, Catbells, Grange, Seatoller, Honister Slate Mine, Buttermere, Lorton and Whinlatter Forest.

The Caldbeck Rambler – Service 73, 73A

A circular route from Keswick to Caldbeck 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.

The Borrowdale Rambler – Service 78
Keswick to Seatoller via Derwentwater Lakeshore, Lodore, Grange in Borrowdale and Rosthwaite.

Keswick to Patterdale Ullswater Connexion – Service 208
This service runs from Keswick to Patterdale via Aira Force and the village of Glenridding.

Penrith, Carlisle and Kendal (via Oxenholme) are served by the West Coast Main Line – a fast, frequent and easily accessible service from all over the country. The nearest railway station to Keswick is Penrith, a distance of 17 miles. A bus service (journey of approx 40 minutes) connects Penrith railway station with Keswick Bus Station. Alternatively you can pre-book a taxi from Penrith train station to Keswick. We recommend local company Davies – Tel: 017687 72676

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 all train times with the Trainline or National Rail. 

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ 

https://www.thetrainline.com/ 

Lancaster to Keswick
Fri 17 May
Lancaster to Penrith (train) 14:10 -> 14:45
X4 bus to Keswick 15:15 -> 16:02
OR take the scenic route and catch the bus all the way!
555 from Lancaster to Keswick, 14:14 -> 16:38
 
Manchester to Keswick
Sat 18 May
Manchester Piccadilly to Penrith (train) 08:21 -> 09:58
X4 bus to Keswick 10:15 ->11:02
 
Newcastle to Keswick
Sat 18 May
Newcastle to Penrith (train via Carlisle) 14:40 -> 16:47
X4 bus to Keswick 17:20 -> 18:07
OR take the bus from Carlisle
Newcastle to Carlisle (train) 14:40 -> 16:06
553 to Keswick 16:30 -> 17:53
 

Keswick Mountain Festival has official parking (including accessibility options) at Keswick Rugby Club which is a short distance from the Festival site through Hope Park. You can buy these daily tickets here.

The closest parking to the Festival Site is at Lake Road Car Park which is Pay and Display.

​Click here to view all other Keswick Car parks. 

From the M6 (traveling both North or South) take Junction 40 at Penrith for the North Lakes. From J40, follow the A66 West for approximately 17 miles to Keswick.

The AA Route Planner and RAC Route Planner are an excellent way to plan your route to Keswick.

Festival Location

  • Festival site for Sat Navs is CA12 5DJ 
  • Whatthreewords – the main entrance is ///presides.stops.pavilions

Lift Sharing 

  • KMF encourage lift sharing where possible: https://liftshare.com/uk 

Manchester Airport and Newcastle Airport both offer convenient access to the North 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.

Manchester Airport has its own railway station, with direct links to Oxenholme – the Lake District, Kendal, Windermere and the West Coast Main Line. Newcastle Airport also has good road links to Cumbria and the Lake District.

A selection of local taxi numbers:

Davies Taxis – 01768 772 676

Iain’s Taxis – 01768 736 333

Derwent Taxis – 01768 775 585

Keswick Cab Co – 07961 589 003