Keswick Railway Path | Miles without Stiles 37
Keswick is one of our favourite places to visit; from the fells, to the lakes, to the beautiful gardens and more. We've spent many happy hours travelling, hiking and enjoying time as a family in this area of the Lake District National Park. One of the routes we've recently had a chance to explore is the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path. Here I'll share a few of our favourite photos and a short review of this accessible walk in our Cumbrian backyard.
About the Keswick Railway Path
A few years ago Storm Desmond destroyed the trail completely and so it had undergone a full reconstruction. The new and improved route was a multi-million pound project which has had picnic benches, perches and more installed to make it an even better experience for locals like us and holidaying visitors alike.
Where can I park?
There is a car park with a limited number of spaces opposite the old Keswick Station. It has marked disabled parking here, and is the best starting point, with its level access point to the pathway. It can fill up quickly at peak time, so be sure to head out early and bag yourself a parking space.
N.B. This is a pay and display car park, so make sure you have some change with you!
To find the car park, use this post code: CA12 4NE (You can also follow the signs from Keswick town center to the leisure pool.)
Alternatively there are limited spaces to park in Threlkeld if you prefer to do the path in the other direction.
How far is the walk?
The full route from Keswick to Threlkeld is 5km (3.1 miles) of smooth tarmac path, making it 10km (6.2 miles) to complete the route to Threlkeld from your car and back again. It is well signposted and easy to follow, just be sure to stay to the left.
Is it suitable for children?
Definitely! As well as its smooth tarmac surface, the Keswick Railway Path is relatively low gradient. Thanks to the improvements made in the past year, this route is now fully accessible to all; from bikes to wheelchair to pushchair and more. The best part about going on a walk like this is that you can literally turn around and head back at any point which suits you. For me, the walk had to end at around half way, as I knew it was as much as I could physically cope with at the time.
Any other day, we would happily have completed the full journey there and back and I’m sure we'll we back to do just that once Peanut is safely earthside. You know your family's capabilities, so I would suggest that you do what suits you best. There are plenty of spots to rest en route, as well as photo opportunities all the way along.
Bonus
It has some stunning views
From the views up Latrigg to the chance to look down on River Greta when crossing bridges, there are plenty of places to check out some true Cumbrian beauty on this route. You can see an old mine shaft in the hillside from the path, perch alongside the river and look over the running water and stop for photos under the bridge archways. I love the variety it offers, and cannot wait to get back out there to explore further along the Keswick Railway Path.
A note from Naomi
Why am I writing about accessible walks?
Whilst pregnant with Peanut I've been unable to carry Munchkin in his carrier; and for the past few weeks have been restricted to days out which are accessible. This is due to either needing to take him in the pushchair when out without John, and my use of crutches to get around. Some of these walks are ones we have found ourselves with a bit of local research, others are included in the Lake District National Park's 48 Miles without Stiles routes.
What is Miles without Stiles?
Miles without Stiles is a collection of accessible routes across the Lake District National Park suitable for people with limited mobility; including wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, and more. I’ve decided to include a few of these routes in my new accessible walks blog post collection here at Me Becoming Mum - including the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.
So, there you go! I am so glad I have a space to share my thoughts on the Keswick Railway Path with you. I hope you are able to check out this family-friendly Lake District walk, next time you visit. If you do, be sure to let me know how you enjoyed your trip in the comments below.
For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful places we have on our Cumbrian doorstep check out my Lake District category here. Have you found somewhere amazing to visit in the Lake District? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.
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