​Always Happy In The Lakes

Gary Richardson returns to a much-loved holiday destination and discovers some stunning new beauty spots to add to his memory bank.

- Gary Richardson

FOR A LATE summer pitch with a view, the Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site takes some beating – sitting as it does on the shores of Derwent Water in the Lake District. To the north are majestic mountains, to the south the lake and, just a stone’s throw from the campsite, the bustling town of Keswick, which has historic links with the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. The town is very much a honey-pot destination for day-trippers.

Lakeshore activities and views 

One look around the site reveals a lot about the folk who come here. Boats, canoes, bikes and boots are much in evidence; it’s clear that those seeking a rush of adrenalin on the lake and fells are regular visitors. The Keswick site is popular with families and spaces are at a premium during the high days of summer, especially on the pitches overlooking the lake. And those seeking a more leisurely holiday are happy to drink in the sublime views from their van windows.

Keswick is a busy market town. Whatever your shopping needs, Keswick should have it. Groceries, gifts, outdoor stockists and a fine selection of pubs, bars and restaurants line the streets, and on our first day the outdoor market was in full swing under the shadow of the historic Moot Hall. It has been established for more than 700 years by charter and really pulls in the crowds.

Back at the caravan was a chance for an al fresco lunch with fresh produce from the market and the opportunity to peruse the map. Even though I have holidayed in the Lakes all my life, there are still one or two attractions I’d yet to see, and the glorious weather and close proximity to two famous landmarks meant that on this occasion I could put that to rights.