Keswick

 16-19 June 2025

Keswick, but not as we know it.  We always go to Castlerigg Hall when we visit Keswick, but not this time.  No availability.  Instead we decided to take a chance on a site we have been meaning to give a try for a while - Threlkeld Hall.  Our first new site since June 2023.

Monday

A Monday start due to J having a week off work.

First impressions were good, all pitches are a good size and are separated by laurel hedging.  We got a pretty good one with an excellent view of Clough Head.

Clough Head from our pitch

Some reviews complained about noise from the nearby A66 but we hardly noticed it.  We were expecting the toilets and showers to be excellent based on reviews, and according to J they were.  The ladies, that is.  However, the mens were only just about ok according to D!

After setting everything up we strolled into nearby Threlkeld village to check out it's two pubs.  Only one was open on a Monday and it was a Jennings, so not a great selection of beers for D, but apart from that it was ok with a nice outside seating area.

In the evening we had a barbecue and then sat outside the caravan enjoying the peace and quiet, with a game of scrabble to round off the night (J won)

Tuesday

We awoke to the sound of rain and it didn't stop until around midday.

When it eased off a bit we set off for Keswick along an old railway track that has been turned into a cycle/footpath.  About 5 miles.

It rained a  bit on the way, but not much, and we didn't get soaked.

In Keswick we had a late lunch and a couple of drinks in a couple of pubs before gettinng the X5 back to Threlkeld and then another night sitting outside the caravan.

Wednesday

A much better day weatherwise and as we had been looking out at it for a couple of days we decided to tackle Clough Head, 726 metres.

We decided on  a direct ascent and it turned out to be a very long, steep slog!  Our route was about 6 miles in total. We were out for 4 hours and, as usual, forgot to apply suntan lotion, so quite red that evening!

Our caravan from the top of Clough Head

We'd set off early so we got back to the site quite early and after a rest we got a bus back into Keswick.  We had dinner in the Dog and Gunn and drinks in a couple of other pubs.

We didn't stay out particularly late and rounded the day off with a game of scrabble sitting outside the caravan (D thrashed again!)

Thursday

We toyed with the idea of asking if we could stay an extra night but decided against it and were home by midday.

Not sure if we will come back to this site, out favourite in the area is still Castlerigg Hall.

Coming soon...

A trip mid July, but no idea where yet.