Thornthwaite
Thornthwaite, bypassed by the A66, is a quiet popular village on the edge of Whinlatter Forest, with wonderful views across the valley and Bassenthwaite Lake towards Skiddaw. In Spring the roads in the village are lined with daffodils and many lambs occupy the surrounding fields.
It lies three miles to the west of Keswick and only a short drive along the A66 to Keswick with its many shops, pubs, restaurants, theatre and cinema.
It's a great base for people who like walking and cycling as there are good forest tracks linking the village with Whinlatter Forest Park and the fells beyond. 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. 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.
The Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre can also be accessed by car via the neighbouring village of Braithwaite. Whinlatter Forest, England's only true mountain forest has many attractions. It is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission.The Forest Park and the Visitor Centre provide lots of opportunity for walking and mountain biking.
You can hire a bike there from Cyclewise or take your own. It offers a number of graded walks through the forest on marked trails and a series of children's outdoor play areas . For those over the age of ten there's a treetop adventure called Go Ape, a high level journey along bridges, tarzan swings and zip slides up to 40 feet in the trees.
Don't miss a visit to Thornthwaite Galleries with over 140 local artists exhibiting paintings, wood turning, jewellery, pottery, textiles and much more. Sit and relax in the teashop and enjoy home made cakes, scones, soups and toasted sandwiches.
Thornthwaite is served by the X4/X5 - Workington/Cockermouth/Keswick/Penrith bus. Click here for bus timetables.
A well known landmark is 'The Bishop', a whitewashed rock outcrop on the side of Barf, looking down on the village. This striking landmark is said to be a monument marking an 18thC legend where the drunken Bishop of Londonderry, who was climbing the hillside on his pack horse to fulfil a bet with the landlord of the local Inn, fell off his mount and died.
