9 Places to Visit Near Keswick

If you feel you've explored Keswick thoroughly and are looking to see what the wider area holds, then we've got some great options for you. Out of the town, but just a short car or bus ride away, there's even more on offer in this part of the Lake District. Here's our top pick of attractions to visit near Keswick.

Whinlatter Forest is one big adventure playground. Not only are there literal playgrounds – great for burning off steam with the kids – there's a Go Ape high ropes course, mountain biking, alpaca trekking and a Gruffalo trail… That's before we even get to all the many walking and running trails that wind their way around the forest! There's a café and gift shop, too, to fuel your day. It's a steep drive up, but worth it for a full or part day out.

Kim recommends: Whinlatter Forest was always a great treat for us as kids. We loved the long slides and the extensive play area.

You'll have to time things carefully to visit this Mirehouse stately home: because it's privately owned, its opening hours are limited. But, if you love literature, history, and beautiful gardens, then you'll want to make the effort. The grounds are open more frequently, but try and time your visit to see inside the building, too: it's more down-to-earth than other historic homes and has hosted literary grates such as Tennyson. In the grounds themselves, there are extensive gardens, a great play area, woodland and lakeside walks, and a pretty church.

Another stately home, and this one you might recognise the name of! The childhood home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, Wordsworth House stands grandly in the town of Cockermouth. The National Trust, who now manage it, have kept as close as possible to what it would have been during the poet's childhood. Look out for the roaring fire in the kitchen, where you might get to sample baked goods, and the riverside vegetable garden.

Explore the area's industrial heritage at Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum. The small museum is jam packed with fascinating details about the former working quarry. Take your time looking around it before hopping onto a steam train for a short journey into the heart of the quarry where you'll be able to get up close and personal to huge machinery that was once used to work the stone of the area.

Whinlatter's smaller cousin, Dodd Wood sits on the opposite side of Bassenthwaite Lake and provides a somewhat more sedate forest experience. You'll find lovely woodland walks, impressive viewpoints, and wildlife such as red squirrels and osprey. If you fancy a longer hike, you can continue right on up onto the mountain of Skiddaw. Treat yourself at the end with a tasty bite and a hot drink from The Old Sawmill Tearoom.

Home of world-famous whisky, The Lakes Distillery is a classy place for a day out. You can take a guided tour around the distillery itself before sampling some of its creations, which include gin and vodka as well as whisky. Take more of it home from the gift shop, and stop off for a meal at their popular restaurant.

One for animal-lovers: the Lake District Wildlife Park is a small but wonderful conservation park with animals that range from pigs and donkeys to zebra, lemurs and wildebeest. Because it's not huge, even little legs can explore the whole park, and there are fascinating talks throughout the day, which introduce you to some of the wildlife more closely.

Kim recommends: A zookeeper experience will be really memorable. Enjoy meerkats scampering over your knees, or see how similar to dogs the chilled-out tapir are.

Though Honister Slate Mine – still a working mine – tells a great story of the local industry, it's also a brilliant spot for adventure lovers (so you know why we like it!). It's home to the infamous Via Ferrata, which has you dangling high above the valley on rope bridges and sheer cliff faces. There are also other great experiences such as Climb the Mine and mine tours.

The famous beauty spot is well photographed, so you've no doubt seen what it looks like. But it's still well worth visiting for yourself. Ashness Bridge is absolutely delightful, and the Surprise View really is a wonderful surprise, with a panorama over the lake that appears as if from nowhere!

Kim recommends: There's a nice walk over Walla Crag from Keswick if you would rather leave the car behind. Head onto the hill from Springs Wood and then drop back down to the lake at Ashness Bridge for a circular walk.