20 Attractions to Explore Near Thirlmere

Helvellyn is the 3rd highest mountain in the Lake District and England. This narrow ridge has a reputation of being scary and difficult. The scenery includes three deep glacial coves and two sharp-topped ridges on the eastern side. Helvellyn was one of the earliest fells to prove popular with walkers and explorers.

Lodore Falls are located behind the Lodore Falls Hotel near the Grange end of Derwentwater. The waterfall, a must for Victorian tourists staying at Keswick, is formed by the beck from Watendlath Tarn cascading over huge boulders for a distance of some 100 feet. Although it is spectacular in the rainy season, it can dry to a trickle in the summer.

Nestling high in the mountains at the head of three valleys in a great scoop Grisedale Tarn has an atmospheric setting. Squeezed by the southern guardian of the great Helvellyn ridge - Dollywaggon Pike to its north, and the bulks of Fairfield and Seat Sandal to the south, its outflow treks north east through the long valley of Grisedale to the village of Patterdale.

Walla Crag is a fabulous viewpoint on the eastern side of Derwent Water, much of the panorama is hidden until having climbed through the trees the ascent of Cat Gill is left behind, and the crag is finally gained. The summit cairn once stood much closer to the edge than it does now having been moved back to the official Ordnance Survey spot height. The summit lies a little way back from the brink, the smooth heather-clad hinterland then dropping to the broad depression of Low Moss. Beyond here t

Castle Crag is a hill in the North Western Fells of the English Lake District. It is the smallest hill included in Alfred Wainwright's influential Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, the only Wainwright below 1,000 feet. This route follows the terrace path above the lovely Borrowdale Valley. A short diversion takes you up to Castle Crag via a short but fairly steep zigzag path of loose slate. The route drops through the Jaws of Borrowdale down to the River Derwent below and follows the river

Helm Crag is a well-known peak just northwest of Grasmere. It’s the fells distinctive rocky profile that lends itself its alternative name ‘The Lion and the Lamb’. The mountains true summit is a cannon shaped barrel of rock known as The Howitzer and stands just over 25ft high. It gives an exhilarating little climb, a brief essay in real mountaineering, and, in a region where all is beautiful, it makes a notable contribution to the natural charms and attractions of Grasmere."

Derwentwater, at 3 miles long, 1 mile wide, and 72 feet deep, is just a short stroll from Keswick town along well-maintained footpaths. The lake is very much a landscape of moods, varying from the dramatic waves splashing against Friar’s Crag when driven by southerly gales, to the absolute mirror-calm of early mornings. One of the iconic locations where you can spend some time and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Easedale Tarn is a tarn in the center of the English Lake District, about two miles west of the village of Grasmere. With plenty of stone bridges for trolls to hide under, waterfalls plunging into pools, and a mountain tarn surrounded by an amphitheater of fells, this walk is truly spectacular. The path up is a little loose under foot and rocky but really this is a straightforward and pleasant walk. The ring of mountains is suitably impressive.

Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric and dramatically sited of all British stone circles, with panoramic views and the mountains of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop. It is not just its location that makes this one of the most important British stone circles. Thought to have been constructed about 3000 BC, it is potentially one of the earliest in the country. Taken into guardianship in 1883, it was also one of the first monuments in the country to be recommended for preservation by th

Cat Bells is a fell in the English Lake District in the county of Cumbria. It has a modest height of 451 m but despite this, it is one of the most popular fells in the area. Its distinctive shape catches the attention of many visitors to the Lakes who feel compelled to climb to the summit after seeing it from the viewpoint of Friars' Crag on the opposite side of Derwentwater.

The Lake District National Park, in North West England, is the largest national park in the country, occupying 885 sq mi. It is considered one of England's most scenic regions and is the country's premier destination for hiking and climbing. The park lies entirely within the modern county of Cumbria, shared historically by the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, and Lancashire. Known as much for its mountain peaks as its lakes, the park is home to England's tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, and i

Keswick Museum and Art Gallery in the Fitz Park was built at the turn of the century for ‘the inhabitants of Keswick and the visitors thereto. The local history collection stretches back to Roman times and includes such items as the famous 700-year-old cat, a penny-farthing cycle, and a man trap. One of the prime exhibits is a set of musical stones, variously termed the stone dulcimer, the rock harmonica or the geological piano.

A Georgian villa and former home of English poet, William Wordsworth. Today the house is a National Trust property that has only recently been open to the public. Unlike most other National Trust properties, Allan Bank is not a recreation of a period property and many rooms are stripped back, allowing visitors to use their imagination about the building’s potential.

Grasmere is perhaps best known as the home of William Wordsworth, a place he once described as "The most loveliest spot that man hath found." Set alongside Grasmere Lake, Grasmere is shrouded by a panorama of fells and mountains that provide the atmosphere so beloved of Wordsworth and the Romantic poets. Old cottages, faced with pebbledash, and houses of bluish-green local slate vie for attention along the twisty streets of the village.

Derwent Pencil Museum is the home of the first pencil, and the Cumberland Pencil Company, manufacturers of Derwent pencil perfection since 1832. It is home to one of the biggest colouring pencils in the world, the idea of technical manager Barbara Murray. It is particularly popular with visitors from the county of Yorkshire, due to the importance of pencil production for the local economy during the 1930s.

Latrigg is Keswick's own fell and one for the 'must-do' list for your visit to Keswick. The views from the summit over Keswick town, Derwentwater and the surrounding fells are breath-taking and really help you to orientate yourself. An easy up and down route via Spooney Green Lane from Keswick with a circular route round the summit. The slopes of Latrigg are partially wooded, and logging work is currently being undertaken.

Honister Slate mine is at the top of the Honister Pass in Borrowdale in the Lake District. You can watch slate being riven (or split) using processes that have changed little over the past 300 years. Quarrying for Westmorland green slate has been taken place in the area since 1728. Apart from the mining, it is also a popular tourist attraction in the Lake District National Park.

Dove Cottage in Grasmere, was William Wordsworth‘s home from 1799 to 1808. Here Wordsworth produced the most famous and best-loved of his poems, and his sister Dorothy kept her famous Grasmere journals. He was there with his sister Dorothy from 1799 to 1808 and penned the line "I wandered lonely as a cloud" after being inspired by flowers the pair had seen on the shores of Ullswater.

Aira Force was one of the more attractive waterfalls in the Lake District of Northern England with a 20m cumulative height. Aira Force provides a glimpse of a landscaped Victorian park with dramatic waterfalls, arboretum and rocks scenery. The main force falls 70 feet from below a stone footbridge and is on land owned by the National Trust. This is the perfect place for a family walk and picnic. From exploring the woods and splashing through streams and so more.

Brothers Water is in the Hartsop valley and is a small lake in the eastern region of the Lake District. The lake is located at the foot of Kirkstone Pass, where the road climbs from the valley of Patterdale before descending to the more visited areas of Ambleside and Windermere. The small lake sustains a trout population and is one of four locations in the Lake District to harbour a rare species of fish, the Schelly.