Bed and Breakfast in Keswick,
at the heart of the Lake District

Mark & Helen Smith
Greystoke House
9 Leonard Street
Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4EL
Tel: 017687 72603
info@greystokeguesthouse.co.uk

Keswick

Keswick, the Northern centre of the Lake District National Park lies in a beautiful valley between the North shores of Derwent water and the towering grandeur of Skiddaw Mountain.

Keswick town is recorded in the 13th century as Cese-wic, indicating that it acted as a market for cheese. During the 16th century small-scale mining took place here, and it was the source of the world’s first graphite pencils. The pencil industry still remains today at the Cumberland pencil museum.

Keswick was granted a charter to be a market town in 1276 by Edward I. The pedestrianised main street has recently been re-laid in cobblestones and retains an old charm, which people come from miles around to visit. The Market place features the Moot hall, which dates back to 1571 when it was used as a courthouse. Since then it has also been used as a market, prison and town hall, it now houses the Keswick tourist information centre. Thursday is craft market day and Saturday is full market day with stalls ranging from fruit and veg, fresh fish, local meat and cheeses to art and crafts, pet supplies, sheepskin rugs and woolly hats.

There are a wealth of shops including several gift shops selling all sorts of local crafts and fine goods, a couple of chocolate shops namely Old Friars (something for everyone) and Helen’s.

Keswick is also the capital of outdoor shops in Cumbria with the better known shops such as Blacks, Elliot’s, Fat Face and Millet’s and smaller independent shops such as Rathbones and George Fishers.

Derwent Water, the most picturesque lake in Cumbria is only a 10 minute stroll away. Jump on board the Keswick launch and stop off at several locations around the lake, where you can take a walk up Walla crag, Catbells or Maiden moor or visit Ashness Bridge, the Lodore falls or the villages of Grange or Watendlath.

The second Keswick Mountain Festival will take place on 16-19 May 2008. If you wish to attend this exciting event book now!