After a browse around Keswick, with its twice-weekly market, Pencil Museum, theatre plus huge range of outdoor clothing shops, head north up the quiet east side of Bassenthwaite Lake for a ‘wee dram’. The Lakes Distillery produces gin and vodka as well as whisky, and a behind-the-scenes-tour lets you not only watch, but taste a tot of all three.
South of Keswick is Borrowdale, possibly the Lake District’s most picturesque valley. Grange is a pretty spot for a walk across fields to the lake or a stroll along the wooded riverside path. Then hold on to your seat, as you navigate the one-in-four Honister Pass at the head of the valley to Honister Slate Mine, a still-working 18th-century mine. Apart from its shop, options include a mine tour or, if you’ve a head for heights, a thrilling ‘via ferrata’ climb. Honister is also a starting point for climbing Great Gable, if you want to tick off one of the iconic fells.
Come the evening, there’s Michelin-star dining at The Cottage in The Wood, or pizzas and live music at The Pocket. For a drink afterwards, find more of the best pubs in the Lake District in our guide.
