Derwent Water – Portinscale Suspension Footbridge loop from Keswick

Hiking trails & Routes

Derwent Water – Portinscale Suspension Footbridge loop from Keswick

Moderate

4.8

(9)

225

hikers

Derwent Water – Portinscale Suspension Footbridge loop from Keswick

02:11

8.39km

50m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Lake District National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

41 m

Derwent Water

Highlight • Natural Monument

what a wondefull place this is, great base for walking or exploring or getting the steamer

Tip by

418 m

Picnic area by the River Derwent footbridge

Highlight • Viewpoint

Just off the loop around Derwent Water

Tip by

3.85 km

Nichol End Marine

Highlight • Lake

Great place for all kinds of watersports

Tip by

4.06 km

Fawe Park was the holiday home of Betrix Potter's family in 1903 when their usual choice, the neighbouring Lingholm, was unavailable due to renovation. The kitchens here are thought to have been used as the setting of Mr McGregor's garden in *The Tale of Benjamin Rabbit*, published the following year.
These gardens - and Fawe Park itself - are privately owned, and only a glimpse can be seen of them over the hedges and between the fence. This is a frustration that Beatrix herself felt, as she complained of the poor views of the gardens - probably from this very path - in a letter written while staying at Lingholm in 1904.
The Lingholm Estate has opened their walled garden to the public, complete with Beatrix Potter signs and information available. This garden, too, has a claim to Mr McGregor's garden as it was well-known to Beatrix and may be a source of early inspiration prior to 1903.
Information on Fawe Park found in the book *Walking with Beatrix Potter* by Norman & June Buckley

Tip by

4.52 km

Alpacaly Ever After Meeting Point

Highlight • Rest Area

Excellent way to spend an hour.

Tip by

6.11 km

Portinscale Suspension Footbridge

Highlight • River

The main road from Keswick to Cockermouth used to take you through the village of Portinscale via a two arched stone bridge known as the Long Bridge. There were plans to replace it in 1911 but these plans were opposed and it was not until it was damaged by floods in 1954 that it was replaced initially by a temporary metal structure. When the road was built to bypass the village in the 1960's a new road bridge was built further downstream and the current suspension bridge was built for pedestrians only allowing people to access Portinscale across the fields known as the Howrahs.

Tip by