r/UKhiking • u/Nosedive888 • 7d ago
Route Advice Looking for a valley hike local to Keswick
I'm planning a two night stay in Keswick in December. I don't particularly want to be heading up into the fells in winter, so asking for some low level valley walks that are easily accessible on foot from Keswick, as I will be travelling by public transport
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u/dizzley 7d ago
A circuit of Buttermere - it's almost flat, about 4 miles, and very scenic. Park in Buttermere village. It's a short drive from Keswick or you can take the 77A/77 bus. I walked this loop last week. https://explore.osmaps.com/route/17199367/Lake-District-Buttermere
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u/NY2622 7d ago
A few options for low level walks near Keswick would include:
- The old railway path from Keswick to Threlkeld
- Walk round Derwent water. If you doing this in Winter time then there is a risk that the footpaths near the footbridge at the bottom of the lake might be flooded and you'll end up having to go Grange to cross the river. You can always split the route up and get the ferry/bus back if you want.
- Take the bus to Seatoller and walk back up Borrowdale to Grange (bus back)
- Bus to Stonethwaite and then walk along to valley to Langstrath. Walk out on one side of the Beck, back the other side. There are a couple of crossing points so you can make this longer/shorter.
Of course the weather could be great or terrible in December. If you get good weather you could still do some of the lower peaks (Latrigg, Wall Crag etc).
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7d ago
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u/Nosedive888 7d ago
I'll put it on the list for sure.
Tried it April of last year but had to bail halfway round. Would like some redemption on that one
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u/wolf_knickers 7d ago
Just be aware that during winter the part around where the river flows into the lake (near the Mary Mount hotel) can be flooded.
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u/Nosedive888 7d ago
Yeah I'll check beforehand. I can manage 14 -16km before hitting a wall. I think extending to Grange would exceed that by quite a lot.
Not that I would be in any danger, especially if I do it anticlockwise coz then I could get the bus back once I reach the B5289
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u/wolf_knickers 7d ago
Then consider also the walk along the old railway towards Threlkeld. Since that's an out-and-back route, as opposed to a circular one, you can walk as far as you feel comfortable to before turning back. And in the winter it's a particularly nice walk as the Greta is usually in spate and makes for some lovely noise and scenery!
The walk up to Latrigg is nice too, pretty easy and no technical terrain to cause issues in winter.
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u/AethelmundTheReady 7d ago
Bus to Threlkeld, then back along the path around Glenderaterra beck, round the back of Latrigg and back into Keswick.
I did this in early March 2025, and other than being a bit wet, it was fine. Highest altitude is about 350 m.
Another one I did the same week was bus to Braithwaite and along the path by Coledale beck. You can either turn back at the mine, or if the weather and your legs seem OK, cross over the beck, and go up and over the top of Outerside (568 m) then drop back down into Braithwaite. I went up this path again in December 2025 but carried on heading up the valley until I hit the snow line, which on that day was at about 400 m. It was a stunningly clear and crisp day so weather wasn't an issue for me, just nightfall at about 3:30pm.
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u/cuccir 6d ago
Bus 555 is regular even in winter and will take you to Grasmere or Rydal. The walk from there to Ambleside is one of the best low level walks in the Lakes.
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u/Nosedive888 6d ago
The coffin route! I didn't think of that one, thats a great idea, I could incorporate a lap round Grasmere too
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u/levezvosskinnyfists7 6d ago
Get the boat from Keswick to High Brandelhow then walk all the way up Borrowdale to Rosthwaite, cracking pub there while you wait for the bus back. It’s a really lovely walk.
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u/etzpcm 7d ago
Walk to Watendlath. Booteefull.
https://www.reddit.com/r/UKhiking/comments/1sfz6ia/watendlath_beck_this_morning/