LAKE DISTRICT / LAKESHORE CIRCUIT / BOAT SHORTCUT
Derwentwater Circular Walk: 10-Mile Route Map & Parking
Leave Keswick on foot and circle Derwentwater on a wonderfully varied low-level route packed with famous viewpoints, woodland, sculptures, jetties, boardwalks and Lodore Falls. Walk the full ten miles or take the launch to Lodore and enjoy a shorter clockwise adventure back to Keswick.
At a glance
Why this walking route is worth doing
The Derwentwater circular walk is one of the best long, low-level walks in the Lake District. It begins beside Keswick Launch and follows the lake clockwise through woods, bays, open fields and quiet stretches of shoreline before returning through Portinscale and Keswick.
There is something different around almost every corner. You will pass the famous view from Friar’s Crag, the carved Centenary Stone at Calfclose Bay, Great Wood, Lodore Falls, Chinese Bridge and the peaceful National Trust woodland at Brandelhow.
The full route is around ten miles and deserves most of a day. It avoids a big fell climb, but that does not make it effortless. Expect uneven paths, wet ground, boardwalks, gates and short sections close to the road. After prolonged rain, the southern boardwalks can flood and a diversion through Grange may be required.
If ten miles feels too much, take the Keswick Launch clockwise to Lodore. Visit the falls, then join the walking route towards Chinese Bridge, Brandelhow, Hawse End, Portinscale and Keswick. You still get the quieter side of the lake and a proper walk, with a boat journey thrown in at the start.
Derwentwater circular walk at a glance
- Route type: Clockwise lakeshore circuit
- Distance: About 10 miles / 16 km
- Time: Allow 5-6 hours, longer for food, photographs and Lodore Falls
- Start and finish: Keswick Launch, Derwentwater Foreshore
- Terrain: Gravel paths, woodland tracks, fields, boardwalks, stones, gates and short roadside sections
- Main highlights: Friar’s Crag, Centenary Stone, Great Wood, Lodore Falls, Chinese Bridge, Brandelhow and Portinscale
The Derwentwater Walk is waymarked, but carry the interactive map and an offline walking map. Lake levels affect the eastern shore near Ashness and the boardwalks beyond Chinese Bridge, so always follow current signs and diversions.
Shorter boat-assisted option
Take a clockwise Keswick Launch service from Keswick Boat Landings to Lodore. From Lodore jetty, walk up to the B5289 and carefully cross for the signed approach to Lodore Falls. Return to the road, pass the hotel and join the main clockwise route towards Manesty and Chinese Bridge.
Boat services, stopping patterns and usable jetties can change with the season, weather and lake level. Check the live Keswick Launch timetable before leaving and do not rely on an old screenshot.
Mapped and ready
See the real route before you set off
Open the interactive map before setting off and save an offline map for the walk.
Step-by-step directions
Follow the route
Keswick Launch to Friar’s Crag
Begin at Keswick Launch and follow the gravel lakeshore path south, keeping Derwentwater on your right. Take the right-hand fork for Friar’s Crag. This famous viewpoint looks straight down the lake towards the Jaws of Borrowdale and is worth the short detour even on a grey day.
Parking or booking: Lakeside Car Park is beside Theatre by the Lake; Central and Bell Close are alternatives.
Strandshag Bay and the Centenary Stone
Return to the waymarked path, descend the steps and continue through gates and woodland. Follow the broad track around the fields and back towards the water. Pass the Millennium Seat before reaching Calfclose Bay, where the carved Centenary Stone sits close to the shoreline beneath Great Wood.
Great Wood to Ashness Gate
Continue clockwise around the bay, pass through the Scots pines and cross the wooden footbridge. When the lake is low, the route may continue along the stony shore. At higher water, follow the signed path beside the ghyll, then use the roadside footpath to reach Ashness Gate landing stage.
Ashness Gate, Kettlewell and Lodore Falls
Follow the shore around the promontory and use the stone walkway below the road towards Kettlewell. Cross the B5289 carefully and take the rocky woodland path towards the Lodore Falls Hotel. Use the signed roadside gate to make the short detour to Lodore Falls, which is at its best after rain.
Route advice: Cross the B5289 carefully and use the signed roadside gate for Lodore Falls.
Lodore to Manesty and Chinese Bridge
Return to the B5289, pass in front of the hotel with care and rejoin the roadside path. After roughly 200 metres, take the gate and broad track on the right signed for Manesty. Follow it to the River Derwent and cross the single-span footbridge known locally as Chinese Bridge.
Boardwalks and the high-water diversion
Beyond Chinese Bridge, continue across the raised boardwalks through the marshy meadows. If the boardwalk is underwater or closed, do not attempt to wade through. Follow the signed road diversion through Grange and rejoin the lakeshore farther west. The official diversion adds roughly 3 km.
Route advice: If the boardwalk is underwater or closed, do not wade through; use the signed diversion through Grange.
The Coppice, Brandelhow and the Hands Sculpture
Continue through woodland and along the quieter western shore, passing through the Manesty and Brandelhow area. The route crosses old mine workings before reaching High Brandelhow jetty. Stay with the shoreline through Brandelhow Park towards Low Brandelhow and look out for the large Entrust Hands sculpture among the trees.
Hawse End, Fawe Park and Nichol End
Leave Low Brandelhow and follow the track past Hawse End Outdoor Centre. Take the signed path through woodland and fields towards Nichol End. This section feels much quieter than Keswick, with occasional openings across the water towards Walla Crag and the eastern shore.
Portinscale and the suspension bridge
From Nichol End, follow the track into Portinscale and use the pavement where available. Continue past the Derwentwater Hotel and cross the suspension bridge over the River Derwent. Take care where the pavement narrows or disappears.
Route advice: Use the pavement where available and take care where it narrows or disappears.
Return through Keswick
Follow the waymarked field path towards Keswick, cross the River Greta bridge and continue into Market Square. Take Lake Road past the shops, use the subway and follow the path through Hope Park back to Theatre by the Lake and Keswick Launch.
Bookable experiences
Activities that fit this guide
Ideas for another day or a longer break. Allow a separate day for these tours; do not plan them after this walk.
Find experiences around Derwentwater and Keswick
Lake District
Make more of your time in Keswick with a lake cruise, guided tour, water activity or another Lake District experience. Check the exact location and travelling time before booking because activities can be spread across the National Park.
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Useful overnight bases
Places to stay near the route
Keswick
Keswick, Cumbria, United Kingdom
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Before you go
Practical information
Footwear and weather
Wear walking shoes or boots with a reliable grip. The route is low-level, but woodland, shoreline and boardwalk sections can become muddy or slippery. Carry waterproofs, an extra layer, food and enough water for a full day.
Parking and facilities
Lakeside Car Park is the closest large public car park to the start. It can fill quickly during weekends, school holidays and good weather, so arrive early or use another Keswick car park. Toilets, cafés and shops are available around Keswick. Other refreshments may be available at Lodore and Portinscale, but check opening times and do not rely on one business being open.
Boat and bus options
Keswick Launch operates clockwise and anticlockwise services around Derwentwater, stopping at several jetties when conditions permit. Lodore is the useful stop for this guide’s shorter option. The Borrowdale bus also links Keswick with stops on the eastern side of the lake, giving another escape route if plans change.
Flooding and lake levels
High water can cover sections near Ashness and the boardwalk beyond Chinese Bridge. Never enter flood water to save time. Use the signed alternative, accept the extra distance or turn back. Conditions can be very different from those shown in an old photograph or route recording.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome around Borrowdale and Derwentwater, but livestock and wildlife are common. Keep dogs on a short lead near livestock, roads, jetties and busy paths, and under close control everywhere else. Carry waste until you find a suitable bin.
Children, pushchairs and accessibility
The complete ten-mile circuit is best suited to older children who are already comfortable with long walks. The full route is not suitable for ordinary pushchairs or most wheelchair users because of its length, uneven surfaces, gates, boardwalks and possible diversions.
Shorter accessible alternatives include the Keswick foreshore and Friar’s Crag route, while part of the Brandelhow path is also suitable for some wheelchair users. Always check the detailed Miles Without Stiles information against individual needs.
Navigation and safety
Download the map before leaving because signal can vary around the lake. The waymarks help, but do not replace a proper route map. Watch traffic during the short roadside sections, keep away from unstable lake edges and never assume a boardwalk is safe simply because it is visible.
Looking after Derwentwater
Stay on established paths, close gates, take litter home and avoid trampling wet ground beside the route. Keep noise down around wildlife and leave sculptures, trees and stonework exactly as you find them.
Parking
Lakeside Car Park is beside Theatre by the Lake and a short walk from Keswick Launch. Central and Bell Close car parks are alternatives. If using the boat shortcut, check the current Park and Sail option at Keswick Rugby Club before travelling.
Tickets and booking
Check the live Keswick Launch timetable, stopping pattern and usable jetties before relying on the boat shortcut. Parking charges and Park and Sail arrangements can change.
Seasonal considerations
Lake levels, weather, boat services and jetty availability change through the year. Carry waterproofs and an extra layer, and allow more time in wet or wintry conditions.
Toilets and refreshments
Keswick provides the most dependable toilets, cafés and shops. Lodore and Portinscale may offer refreshments; carry enough food and water for a full day.
Terrain
Gravel paths, woodland tracks, fields, boardwalks, stones, gates and short roadside sections. Mud, slippery ground and flooding are possible after rain.
Accessibility
The full ten-mile circuit is not suitable for ordinary pushchairs or most wheelchair users. Shorter accessible alternatives include the Keswick foreshore and Friar’s Crag, while part of Brandelhow may suit some wheelchair users; check current Miles Without Stiles information.
Facilities
Toilets, cafés and shops are available around Keswick. Refreshments may also be available at Lodore and Portinscale, but check opening times and do not rely on a single business being open.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome around Borrowdale and Derwentwater, but keep them on a short lead near livestock, roads, jetties and busy paths, and under close control elsewhere.
Public transport
Keswick Launch provides clockwise and anticlockwise lake services when conditions permit. The Borrowdale bus links Keswick with stops on the eastern shore and can provide an escape route if plans change.
Road conditions, tolls or permits
The walk includes short roadside sections where pavements may narrow or disappear. Walk facing traffic where appropriate and follow current signs around closures or diversions.
Safety
Download the map because signal varies. Wear shoes or boots with grip, carry waterproofs, food and water, keep away from unstable lake edges and never assume a visible boardwalk is safe.
Important cautions
High water can cover the eastern shore and boardwalk beyond Chinese Bridge. Never enter flood water; use the signed diversion, accept the extra distance or turn back. Take care on roadside sections.
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Useful answers
Derwentwater Circular Walk: 10-Mile Route Map & Parking FAQs
How long is the Derwentwater circular walk?
The complete Derwentwater circular walk is approximately 10 miles, or 16 km. Allow around 5 to 6 hours, with longer needed for Lodore Falls, photographs, food stops or the high-water diversion.
Where does the Derwentwater circular walk start?
This guide starts and finishes at Keswick Launch on the Derwentwater Foreshore, Keswick, CA12 5DJ. Lakeside Car Park beside Theatre by the Lake is the closest large public car park. Get there nice and early!
Which direction should you walk around Derwentwater?
This guide follows the lake clockwise from Keswick. It visits Friar’s Crag and the eastern shore first, then crosses the southern wetlands before returning through Brandelhow, Hawse End and Portinscale.
Can you shorten the Derwentwater circular walk with the boat?
Yes. Take a clockwise Keswick Launch service to Lodore, visit Lodore Falls, then join the walking route towards Chinese Bridge and continue around the western shore to Keswick. Always check the current timetable and landing availability first.
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