Thornthwaite, Keswick

The North Lakes village of Thornthwaite is located just 3 miles north west of Keswick, between the eastern fringe of Whinlatter Forest and the southern edge of Bassenthwaite Lake. Originally straddling the Keswick to Cockermouth trunk road, the village was by-passed by the A66 in the early 1980s.

Thornthwaite has a good range of holiday accommodation consisting of self-catering cottages, guest houses and a hotel. There are no shops in the village, but Braithwaite is just a mile away, where there are two shops, two pubs, two restaurants and a bistro.

Thornthwaite enjoys a good bus service, being on the X5 Penrith-Keswick-Workington route. Of special note is the last bus of the day, which leaves Keswick for Thornthwaite at 11pm; ideal for those enjoying the town's pubs, restaurants and entertainment. For bus timetables click here.

Many footpaths surround the village, with several routes into Whinlatter forest. A popular footpath from the centre of the village leads up beside the tumbling waters of Comb Beck, providing a sometimes steep but very attractive path into the heart of the forest. The Whinlatter Forest visitor centre is within walking distance. There are also walks around Powter How wood to Bassenthwaite Lake, an elevated route to Braithwaite and a path across the valley to Dodd and Skiddaw.
 

Whinlatter forest, which rises to over 2,000ft, provides miles of walking on footpaths and tracks unhindered by motor vehicles. This area is also popular with off-road cyclists, and planning is in progress for the provision of special mountain biking routes within the forest. The forest provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife including badgers, frogs, toads, foxes, roe deer and red squirrels. Overhead you may see buzzards, peregrines and many other varieties of bird. A breeding pair of Ospreys has become established in Thornthwaite Forest. With a wingspan of up to 5 feet these magnificent birds can be seen catching fish on Bassenthwaite Lake during Spring and Summer. The lake is a protected area, where no motor boats are permitted. The southern part of the Lake is a World renowned site for water fowl, and here is a public hide from which the water birds may be viewed.

In springtime the roads through the village are lined with daffodils, especially the lane leading to St Mary's church, where the churchyard looks straight across the valley to Skiddaw. Above Thornthwaite is the Bishop, a white painted rock outcrop on the side of Barf fell, monument to the Bishop of Londonderry who perished on the fell in 1793?? In the village centre is the popular Thornthwaite Gallery and tea shop, where local artists regularly demonstrate their skills.

For walking routes click here.