It's probably my favourite place to go in the UK My favourite place in the world is the Lake District. It’s the place I feel happiest. I love it for its wide open spaces, forever changing skies and those calf-killer fells to climb.
There is nothing that feels better - in my opinion - than standing at the top of a hill having ticked off yet another Wainwright, being blown by the high winds and feeling like you’ve accomplished something. Not to mention how good that picnic stop at the top feels. Last weekend that’s exactly what I did.
Just a two-hour drive from Liverpool is Keswick, an idyllic market town in the northwest of the Lake District. I’d go as far as to say it's my favourite town in the area. I'm not sure if it's because it's the spot my family visits every year or whether it's down to its stunning town centre.
I decided, after not having a weekend to myself for many weeks, that I’d head up to the lakes for my favourite walk around Derwentwater - it takes around four to five hours and it’s beautiful - I’ve done it so many times I’ve lost count. There are some beautiful spots around the lake from the marsh, idyllic country houses, the Lodore Falls Hotel and Spa, beaches, and even a Llama farm - pretty obvious why it’s my favourite place. There is just something calming about being beside Derwentwater.
The route is also the starting point to climb Catbells which is another of my favourite routes in the Lake District. The walk-up Catbells takes around three hours, but trust me when I tell you the views are worth it from the top. There is just something about being stood at that trig point that makes you feel like the happiest person in the world.
I arrived in Keswick at 11am and the car parks were already heaving. As the sun popped out, I headed out on my ten-mile walk around the lake. I finished up around 3pm and headed straight to the pub for that celebratory pint in the Craft Baa - if you’ve never been, do.
The pub has wild décor - I don’t want to tell you too much about it without giving it away. I finished up my trip to the lakes by meeting up with my grandparents who were staying in Stone Cottage, just outside Keswick. The cottage is nestled on the side of a hill with nothing but sheep as neighbours and the most incredible views.
It’s the perfect place for a total reset because it has absolutely no phone signal. It was a blissful weekend. The complete detox I needed.
There's a reason Keswick will always hold a place in my heart, it’s the perfect destination for an unwind. And better yet, it’s only two hours away from the city..
