--- title: "Braithwaite | Visit Keswick, Lake District" url: https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/braithwaite description: "A walking village at the foot of the Whinlatter Pass — the Coledale round from the door, Force Crag Mine above, and England’s only mountain forest two miles…" --- ## The village Braithwaite sits two and a half miles from Keswick, reached by car off the A66. There is a village shop and there are pubs; for a wider choice of shops, restaurants, a theatre and a cinema, Keswick is a few minutes away. The village is served by the X4 and X5 between Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith. [Bus times and routes](https://visitkeswick.com/visitor-info/getting-to-keswick) are on the getting here page. An old stone packhorse bridge over a beck with a wooden signpost beside it ## Walking from the door Walkers are spoilt here. It would be quite possible to leave the car in the village and walk from your door for a fortnight without retracing your steps. Grisedale Pike, Barrow and Outerside all start from the village, as does the Coledale Round — the horseshoe taking in Grisedale Pike, Eel Crag and Crag Hill. The Newlands valley is over the shoulder of the fell behind. See the [walking routes from Braithwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/do/walking-routes) . ## Up the Whinlatter Pass A timber play den and picnic benches in a clearing among tall forest conifers do ### [Whinlatter Forest](https://visitkeswick.com/do/whinlatter-forest) England’s only true mountain forest, managed by Forestry England, two miles up the pass. Walking and mountain-bike trails, a visitor centre and the WildPlay Trail. Check current conditions, access and seasonal transport information before visiting. The Wow Trail has a nature hide and a viewpoint over Bassenthwaite Lake. Two miles up the pass [Visit](https://visitkeswick.com/do/whinlatter-forest) A family of four on mountain bikes outside a timber bike hire and shop building ### [Cyclewise Whinlatter](https://cyclewise.co.uk/bike-hire-demo-bikes/bike-hire/) Bike hire and a shop at the trail centre, so you can ride the forest without bringing your own. Bike hire [Hire a bike](https://cyclewise.co.uk/bike-hire-demo-bikes/bike-hire/) A person balancing along a high rope bridge in the tree canopy of an adventure course ### [Go Ape Whinlatter](https://goape.co.uk/locations/whinlatter/) Independently operated Go Ape offers Treetop Adventure for ages 4+ and Treetop Adventure Plus for ages 6+. Height and supervision requirements also apply; check directly with Go Ape. Treetop Adventure 4+; Adventure Plus 6+ [Check requirements](https://goape.co.uk/locations/whinlatter/) The white buildings of Force Crag mine below a waterfall falling down the crag ### [Force Crag Mine](https://visitkeswick.com/do) The last mineral mine worked in the Lake District, above the village at the head of Coledale. Restored and cared for by volunteers, with regular National Trust guided tours of the above-ground processing mill. Guided tours [Tour dates](https://visitkeswick.com/do) The junction of Braithwaite village with its stone cottages and low walls ## Stay in Braithwaite An excellent base for the western fells and the Newlands valley, with Keswick close enough for an evening out and far enough for a quiet night. [Find somewhere to stay](https://visitkeswick.com/stay) ## Other villages nearby Whitewashed cottages and a hotel along the road through Portinscale Portinscale Derwentwater boats, lakeside paths and a fifteen-minute walk over the suspension bridge from Keswick. Explore Portinscale 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 A stone lodge with tall gothic windows set among trees near the lake Bassenthwaite A village green and duck-filled stream, with the lake, ospreys and St Bega’s church close by. Explore Bassenthwaite 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 The length of Derwentwater seen from the bracken slopes above Grange Grange in Borrowdale Cross the seventeenth-century bridge into Borrowdale for valley views, riverside walks and the Bowder Stone. Explore Grange in Borrowdale Loading map… - Braithwaite - [Keswick](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/town) - [Portinscale](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/portinscale) - [Thornthwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/thornthwaite) - [Millbeck](https://visitkeswick.com/explore/neighbouring-villages/applethwaite-and-millbeck) ## Where to stay For somewhere to stay close by, see [places to stay in Braithwaite](https://visitkeswick.com/stay/braithwaite) . ## 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 - Personal Agent Protocol: https://visitkeswick.com/.well-known/poppy.json - Live availability and booking: the site's tools above (MCP connector at https://visitkeswick.com/mcp).