Keswick End-to-End via the Railway Path/Cumbria Way

Inaugural 7.5km New Year’s Eve stroll with pubs

Route: Parking halfway up Church Lane (unrestricted except during Keswick School bus times) and walking up to Crosthwaite Church (dedicated to St Kentigern) but, finding the main entrance closed, retracing our steps to Church Lane and continuing north, with the churchyard to our left, on an unmade track, as far as the railway path. 

Here crossing under the path and turning left to ascend steps to the churchyard and the path and turning left to cross the track again and follow on an increasing path, through trees, on an embankment, for about a kilometre, to Crosthwaite Road.

At the road, turning right to walk down to the Pheasant for a quick half by the roaring fire at opening time. Then continuing down the road and turning left on Brundholme Road, talking the footpath to the right of the road, bearing right and climbing up to follow a section of railway path for less than half a kilometre and then descending to the north edge of Fitz Park. 

There bending left round the leisure centre to the old station to join the crowds promenading along the railway path, heading east over Calvert’s Bridgeand over the A591. 

Descending from the path on the far side and onto a snickleway behind the roadside houses and turning up to slip into the beer garden of the Twa Dogs pubs - but returning on finding no hand-pulled beer on to tempt us in. 

Back at the railway path, crossing underneath it towards St Herbert’s Primary School. Walking round the school and doglegging across Trinity Way and Windebrowe Avenue to reach a deserted circular parking and play area and a gate onto field - unfortunately padlocked!

Thrice thwarted, turning back across the open area and taking another snickleway bearing left to make our way slowly uphill through the estate onto Brandlehow Crescent and Manesty View to Manesty House, turning downhill on a path cutting round left to join Manor Brow.

Once on Manor Brow turning right to walk down to, and cross through, the vicarage/bishop’s house driveway and St John’s Churchyard to the lane leading left and down to Borrowdale Road and, finally, right to walk down to the Wainwright.

After a second drink, walking along Lake Road and Market Place to Booths and the Coop, and then taking the Cumbria Way for less than half a kilometre, through ‘the Hadrows’ to Stormwater Bridge and the road leading back up to the B5289. At the road, doglegging across to follow a footpath round to the left of the ‘new’ detached house (Quinta) and along beside fields to the church music centre and the church itself to return to the car.

Conditions: Rising from 2C with very occasional patches of frozen ground and ice, with a slight breeze towards the end and a light smattering of rain, otherwise grey and settled but with high cloud and all the tops visible.

Pub?: Theakstons Old Peculier at the Pheasant (first stop) and Fell Tinderbox and Strands Brewery IPA at the Wainwright (by happy coincidence joining Maddie and Rob beside the fire).