--- title: "Bassenthwaite | Visit Keswick, Lake District" url: https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/bassenthwaite description: "Six miles north of Keswick: a traditional village green, the ospreys, St Bega’s church across the fields, and the most northerly of the lakes." --- ## The village Bassenthwaite is six miles north of Keswick and a similar distance from Cockermouth, a mile and a half from the shores of the lake of the same name. It has a traditional village green with wooden swings and space for ball games — a safe place for children to play — and a stream complete with ducks running through the middle of it. The A591 rather than the village itself is served by the X4 between Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington. [Bus times and routes](https://visitkeswick.com/visitor-info/getting-to-keswick) are on the getting here page. Gorse in flower on the fellside above Bassenthwaite Lake and its valley ## Walking from the green There is an abundance of walking here: Skiddaw itself, Lord’s Seat, Ullock Pike, and Binsey Fell — which Wainwright called a simple walk for a big view. A gentle three miles from the village brings you to the Cumbria Way and Dash Falls. A stroll through the fields takes you to the ancient church of St Bega, in an idyllic spot and the scene of a great many weddings. Dodd Wood, on the slopes of Skiddaw, has waymarked trails and a viewing platform for the ospreys, and those who make Dodd summit are well rewarded. ## Around the lake Lake District Wildlife Park do ### [Lake District Wildlife Park](https://visitkeswick.com/do/lake-district-wildlife-park) Twenty-four acres of parkland with over a hundred species of wild and domestic animals. For a family day [Plan a visit](https://visitkeswick.com/do/lake-district-wildlife-park) Mirehouse and its gardens ### [Mirehouse](https://visitkeswick.com/do/mirehouse-historic-house-gardens) A family-run historic house with gardens, lakeshore and woodland playgrounds. House and gardens [Visit](https://visitkeswick.com/do/mirehouse-historic-house-gardens) A restored dark blue Pullman railway carriage standing among trees at the old station eat ### [Bassenthwaite Lake Station](https://visitkeswick.com/eat/bassenthwaite-lake-station) A cafe aboard a full-size replica steam train at the restored station just off the A66 — the film set for Murder on the Orient Express in 2017. On a film set [Find it](https://visitkeswick.com/eat/bassenthwaite-lake-station) A turf-roofed bird hide at the end of a boardwalk through meadow grass and flowers ### [Dubwath Silver Meadows](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/not-to-miss/dubwath-silver-meadows) A wetland nature reserve at the northern end of the lake. Grasshopper warbler, curlew, greylag geese, reed bunting and meadow pipit. Free to visit [Explore the reserve](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/not-to-miss/dubwath-silver-meadows) A red squirrel stretched along a bare branch in dappled light ### [Red squirrels and ospreys](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/wildlife) Hundreds of birds migrate to the lake, ospreys among them, and Atlantic salmon come here to spawn. The wooded slopes still hold red squirrels. Wildlife [Wildlife around Keswick](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/wildlife) ## On the water Do I need a permit to take a boat on Bassenthwaite Lake? Yes. There is no right of navigation on Bassenthwaite, so any craft on the lake needs a permit — boats, canoes and sailboards alike. [Boating and fishing](https://visitkeswick.com/do/fishing-boating) What do I need to fish here? A valid lake permit and an Environment Agency rod licence. Are there parts of the lake I should keep out of? Yes. Boat, canoe and sailboard users must respect the no-boating zones, which protect important breeding grounds. Can I launch my own sailing boat? RYA members can launch from the grounds of Bassenthwaite Sailing Club at Dubwath on the north-western shore, for a daily fee. The club hosts a family regatta in the first week of August each year. Sailing dinghies out on Bassenthwaite Lake with Skiddaw rising behind ## Stay at Bassenthwaite The most northerly of the lakes is four miles long and three quarters of a mile wide, and the village sits back from it in quiet farmland with Skiddaw behind. [Find somewhere to stay](https://visitkeswick.com/stay) ## Other villages nearby A quiet road curving through Thornthwaite between trees with the fell above Thornthwaite A quiet village by Whinlatter Forest, with views to Skiddaw and a gallery full of local artists. Explore Thornthwaite The small stone church with its bellcote standing on a rocky knoll above the valley road Buttermere and Lorton Two villages linked by Lorton Vale, with lakes, passes and walks in every direction. Explore Buttermere and Lorton A row of village cottages with one washed pink beside the road at Ireby Ireby and Caldbeck The quiet north of Skiddaw: Ireby’s market cross, Caldbeck’s old mills and fellside walks. Explore Ireby and Caldbeck A red telephone box beside stone village houses on a quiet road Mosedale and Mungrisdale Three small places under Blencathra, including Hesket Newmarket’s co-operative pub and brewery. Explore Mosedale and Mungrisdale The Threlkeld village sign in front of white houses with Blencathra rising behind Threlkeld A working village below Blencathra, with two pubs and a traffic-free railway path into Keswick. Explore Threlkeld Loading map… - Bassenthwaite - [Keswick](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/town) - [Ireby](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/ireby-and-caldbeck) - [Millbeck](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/applethwaite-and-millbeck) - [Thornthwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/thornthwaite) ## Where to stay For somewhere to stay close by, see [places to stay in Bassenthwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/stay/bassenthwaite) . ## For AI agents - API catalogue: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/api-catalog - Guide for AI agents: https://visitkeswick.com/llms.txt - A2A agent card: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/agent-card.json - MCP server card: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json - Live availability and booking: the site's tools above (MCP connector at https://visitkeswick.com/mcp).