The Park and Sail initiative, which was universally hailed as a great success in 2021, is continuing in 2022.

Local initiative

Park and Sail is a local initiative between Keswick Launch Company, Keswick Rugby Club, the Portinscale community, Lake District National Park and Keswick Tourism Association.

The initiative helps reduce vehicle overload on the west side of Derwent Water, as well as helping to reduce vehicle emissions in the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site.

Park and Sail involves Keswick Rugby Club’s 200 car parking space, particularly its previously under-used 150 space overspill car park. Users pay £4 for a day for parking which entitles them to a 15% discount off the launch services on that day for the voucher presenter and up to a maximum of 4 of their passengers.

The Launch Company are now operating a shuttle service to Hawse End at the foot of Cat Bells, in addition to its other services. Users access the launches by a short walk through Crow Park.

Douglas Hodgson of Keswick Launch Company commented:

“We are delighted to again team up with Keswick Rugby Club and to encourage people to access the west side of Derwent Water and the wider area in this fantastic way and sustainable way.”

Cat Bells area

By general consensus, the best way to access Cat Bells is by using the launch for access rather than adding to the vehicle problems on the west side of the Lake

Trevor Keough from Keswick Rugby Club added:

“It’s just great to be able to do this again. Everyone wins with the scheme; the Club, the Launch Company, the local community and visitors”

Day trippers walking Cat Bells or visiting the west side of the lake are again expected to be the main beneficiaries of Park and Sail, but users can always take a cruise round the whole Lake.

So much more than Cat Bells

Vanessa Metcalfe from Keswick Tourism Association said:

“The Hawse End shuttle is brilliant for accessing Cat Bells but there is so much more which can be done via Launch including the Newlands Fells, Ashness Fells, Lodore, Grange, Castle Crag and of course Lingholm and Portinscale. We will be sharing some of these walks in blogs and on social media over the course of the year.”

Sustainable visiting

Emma Moody from, Lead Strategy Adviser, Lake District National Park Authority adds: “Once again this year, we are asking all visitors to look after the Lake District and be ‘Lake District Kind’. By using Park and Sail you can have a more relaxing and enjoyable day out whilst looking after the environment and benefitting the local community.”

National Treasure

Derwent Water is undoubtedly one of England’s most beautiful places and a national treasure. John Wilson from Portinscale community group DSSTAG adds:

“A launch trip to, or from, Hawse End has to be the best way to start or end any fell walk. A world class experience in itself - no doubt. There are also great places to eat and drink on the west of the lake.”