For me, a hiking trip to the Lake District usually means bagging some Wainwrights or revisiting old favourites like Striding Edge or Blencathra’s Sharp Edge.
Bit I decided on a slight change of pace for my most recent visit and opted for the 15km circular walk right around the spectacular Derwent Water. Swapping fell and mountain hiking for a lake seemed a sensible call as my visit was en route to Scotland for a weekend of walks.
Here’s how it went (data from my Garmin Epix 2)
| Hike date | 7th Feb 2025 |
| Weather conditions | Chilly but dry |
| Distance hiked | 15.56km |
| Walking time | 3 hours 40 minutes |
| Elevation gain total | 280m |
| Terrain | Mixed – boardwalk, some on road, pebbly shore side sections |
| Rating | A solid 10/10 for me, this one. What a walk |
Derwent Water Circular Walking Route
I followed this one:
I parked at the same spot as the start point on that route too, but in reality you could park anywhere in Keswick and easily access the path.
The pay and display car park by the side of the Theatre on the Lake was a tad on pricey side at around £8 for 6 hours. But honestly, it was a convenient location to park and when a car park is well maintained, I don’t mind paying for it.
From the car park, you’re almost straight onto the paths:
From the off, the views of the water and surround fells are pretty spectacular. I tackled this walk clockwise in a bid to end in Keswick itself where the plan was to get a post hike coffee and a sandwich. Honestly, the best sandwich in the whole world is the post hike sandwich. It’s just a fact.
Lots of the early part of this walk around Derwent Water has you really close to the water’s edge, walking on the little shore/beach areas where you can enjoy views like these. I mean just look:
The rocks there are a sculpture (the Centenary Stones I think?) carved from rock from Borrowdale to commemorate 100 years of the National Trust. They’re not always submerged. It just depends on the water level.
There’s a little bit of on road walking as you approach Lodore Falls spa hotel (which, by the way, has an awesome looking heated pool outside that I was mightily jealous of).
The scenery and terrain is really varied, which I massively appreciated on a walk like this. Crossing the river on the Chinese bridge was another photo opportunity.
And one thing very much worth saying about this walk around Derwent Water is how well maintained the pathways are. In the boggiest and marshiest areas, they’ve built boardwalks like these:
Despite being lake side, this was a completely dry feet kind of walk.
The terrain and landscape features a bit of road walking, woodland and forest type trails, lakeside elements and a section through Keswick itself. So it is massively varied which keeps things interesting.
Derwent Water Circular Walk Video
Here’s the quick Tiktok I did:
@staceyhikes A 15km pretty flat Lake District hike. This was utterly fantastic – The Derwent Water Circular. #hiketok #hikinguk #getoutside ♬ ICARUS (Ambience) – Ted D’Souza & chillØut
Where to Park for the Derwent Water Circular
You could literally park anywhere in Keswick and access the route easily. I parked in the large pay and display car park by the side of the Theatre on the Lake.
Is the Derwent Water Circular Child Friendly?
Now I didn’t have any of my children with me this day. But I have a 4, 7 and 9 year old and would have quite happily taken any of them on sections of this (the younger two certainly wouldn’t have walked the full distance though).
Much of this is perfectly fine terrain for children walking on.
Is it Pushchair Friendly?
Most of it probably is. But I came to a section just before a road section where we had to almost partly scramble up towards a path. Now, I might have just missed a path somewhere or gone the wrong way (I often do) but this is worth bearing in mind.
Certainly, from what I saw, lots of sections of it would be though but if you’re planning to take a pushchair, do a bit more research.
When my youngest was tiny I had him in a toddler hiking carrier from an early age so I often forget to really consider how pushchair friendly routes are.
How Long Does it Take to Walk Around Derwent Water
I took 3 hours and 40 minutes over it. I didn’t feel like I was rushing and I stopped to take photos when I felt like it.
I’m sure you could do it quicker! And equally plenty of people will take their time and do it more slowly. If you tend to be on the slower side or you know you want to take a leisurely pace and make the most of the views, allow yourself 5 to 6 hours.
Would I do it again?
Yes. I would absolutely do this one again. I’d love to see it in summer.
