Exploring Keswick with dogs

We all love a holiday with our four legged friends, and the Lake District is an ideal place for a getaway with your dogs. Keswick was awarded Britian’s most dog-friendly town in 2019, offering walkies galore, dog-friendly pubs and plenty of places to swim.

Please note when adventuring with your dog to be aware of livestock and keep your dogs on leads when passing.

  • Dog friendly walks

 Dogs love walking as much as we do and Keswick offers some spectacular walks that both owners and dogs will enjoy. Keswick offers mountain hikes, walks in the park and lake trails with plenty of water for your dog to cool off on a hot day! 

  • Hope Park

For a simple walk in the park with your dog, Hope Park is a great option. The park is situated between the town centre and Derwentwater, offering landscaped gardens, woodland and a little stream for your dog to have a dip. The park is also home to the extremely pet friendly Hope Café that even haven a special frozen yoghurt just for dogs!

  • The Derwentwater Walk

For a lake trail with plenty of swimming space for both you and your dog, the Derwentwater Walk is great for a summer’s day adventure. The trail is a 10-mile way marked path around the lake exploring the surrounding woodland and tranquil beech shores, creating an ideal spot for your dog to have a paddle! If 10 miles is too long for you or your dog, there are several landing stages along the trail enabling you to catch a ride on the Keswick Launch, which are pet-friendly allowing dogs to ride for free!

  • Castlehead

For a more adventurous hike to introduce your dog to a bit of incline, Castlehead is a great starter hill with a little scramble at the top. The short walk offers amazing views over Keswick and towards Bassenthwaite. The top of the hill is marked by a trig-pillar with a dial pointing out the fells you can see from the viewpoint. An ideal introduction to the fells for your pooch before taking them up the higher mountains.

  • Dog friendly accommodation

No one likes leaving their dog at home when they go away, so finding dog friendly accommodation is always a relief. Luckily, Keswick is one the best places for a pet-friendly holiday with a number of different accommodation options so your canine companions don’t have to miss out…

  • Keswick Cottages

Offering cottages in central Keswick, Threlkeld, Portinscale, Braithwaite and Thornthwaite, Keswick Cottages host a number of cosy properties with private, enclosed gardens, warming wood burners and spacious rooms for larger pooches. There’s over 39 cottages to choose from in the area at affordable prices over on their website.

  • The Royal Oak Hotel

A traditional 18th century coaching inn offering pet-friendly rooms and dining areas, The Royal Oak Hotel is a perfect base in Keswick for exploring the area with your dog. The pub offers a hearty and wholesome menu and a cosy snug area with a crackling fire. To stay with your pets, an additional £15 is charged on top of your room rate to pay for a deep clean after your stay.

  • Low Briery Holiday Park

A large but peaceful holiday park in Keswick offering self-catering holidays, Low Briery Holiday Park provides pet friendly lodges, cabins, houses, camping pods and caravans and apartments.  The park is an ideal base to explore Keswick and even offers their own entertainment on site including family activities. An extra £20 is charged per dog during your stay.

  • Dog friendly pubs

After a long walk, a well-deserved pint and a bowl of water is always a must. Here in Keswick, almost all the pubs are welcoming of muddy boots and paw prints…

  • Dog & Gun

A traditional Lakeland pub with wooden beams, cosy open fires and a friendly atmosphere, dogs often outnumber people in the Dog & Gun! Its easy to see why, as the pub offers a special menu for doggy dinners as well as a dog bowl and treats on the bar.

  • The George Hotel

A 350-year old coaching inn with plenty of character and muddy paw prints, the George pub is a great, pet-friendly place to put your feet (and paws) up with a pint and some home-cooked pub grub after a days hike. The pub offers an open fire as a perfect spot for your dog to cosy up.

  • The Pack Horse Inn

A traditional Lakeland pub tucked away in a quaint side street just off the market square, The Pack Horse Inn is a friendly place welcoming friends with both two legs and four. The pub is cosy with a wooden beamed ceiling and stone floors, offering homemade food to share with your dog as well as live music for everyone to enjoy.