Portinscale, Keswick

The village of Portinscale is located just a mile from Keswick on the North West edge of Derwentwater. Although only a few minutes drive, a very pleasant way to reach the town centre is via a footpath over the river Greta which links Portinscale to Keswick. The level walk takes approximately fifteen minutes.

Portinscale has a pub, a shop ( incorporating a post office), two tearooms and two marinas, the latter having the facilities for both hire and instruction for water sports. There is a good choice of accommodation including hotels, guest houses and self catering.

A short walk from Portinscale takes you to the landing stage at Nichol End from where you can join the launch. You can enjoy a leisurely cruise around the lake or plan a walk combined with a boat trip. Portinscale is an ideal base for a walking holiday. Just a very few of the possibilities nearby are the Newlands Valley, the Coledale Horseshoe, the Allerdale Ramble, Causey Pike, Catbells or a gentle stroll along the shores of Derwentwater.
For walking routes click here.

Portinscale is on the 77/77A Honister Rambler bus route to Buttermere, a spectacular scenic tour, which gives access to many beautiful walks. For bus timetables click here.

The area around Portinscale is well known for its links with Beatrix Potter. Between 1885 and 1907 the Potter family took their summer holidays at Lingholm and Fawe Park, both now private houses, on the Western shores of Derwentwater where Beatrix spent many hours making sketches of the woods, gardens and landscape which were to feature in several of her books. At Lingholm, just beyond Portinscale, the abundance of red squirrels (still there but in lesser numbers) is said to have inspired ''The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin''. The garden of Fawe Park is ''Mr McGregor's Garden'' and can be glimpsed from the footpath between Nicol End and Hawes End. This can be accessed by car or ideally via the launch from Keswick. Other local landmarks can be seen in her illustrations, for example ''Owl Island'' is St Herbert's Island in Derwentwater.