Applethwaite: Hiking on Skiddaw and Views of Derwentwater

Applethwaite between Skiddaw, country lanes and history

Applethwaite, together with Millbeck, lies at the foot of the south-facing slope of Skiddaw. This gives the village a special starting point for a trip that combines walks, landscapes and traces of the past. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage can consider Applethwaite as a base for a variety of days out: on the one hand, there are paths leading to prominent destinations, while on the other, there is a quiet local route with expansive views and insights into the village’s past.

An important option for active days is the walk up Skiddaw. Applethwaite is a starting point for this route. Dodd can also be reached directly on foot from Applethwaite and Millbeck. These two options are useful when planning your trip if you do not want every day to be the same: you can combine one day with a more demanding hiking destination and choose on another day a route shaped more by the surroundings and the paths between the villages. Which route you plan depends on your own schedule for the day and the composition of your travel group.

One specific option is the Keswick–Applethwaite–Millbeck circular walk. It reaches Applethwaite via country lanes. On the return journey to Applethwaite, the route passes the village stocks. This combination of landscape and local details makes the circular walk an opportunity to get to know Applethwaite more closely, not only as a starting point but also along the way. For travellers who enjoy combining historical references with impressions of the landscape, the route offers several different perspectives on the village.

Historic traces in the village

Applethwaite also has notable evidence of its local past. Applethwaite Farmhouse still has an original plank door with 17th-century hinges and wooden pegs. The door is a specific detail through which the older architectural history of the village can be seen. The mill in Applethwaite was used particularly for making blankets. Applethwaite Ghyll was also a site of slate quarrying. Together, these details create a varied picture: the agricultural setting, craft production and the use of local raw materials are among the themes that help shape the character of the surrounding area.

For families or travel groups with different interests, this combination can make planning each day easier. While some travellers plan a hike, others can explore the village through its architectural and economic traces. Not every outing has to be the same length or have the same focus. The historical details are particularly suited to anyone who wants not only to photograph a landscape but also to understand how people have used it.

Views and orientation for planning your trip

The quiet Terrace Road connects Applethwaite and Millbeck and offers views as far as the head of Derwentwater. This route is another way to consciously include the surrounding area in your plans. Anyone choosing a holiday apartment in Applethwaite can combine such local routes with the hiking destinations mentioned above and the circular walk, without limiting the trip to just one type of experience. At the same time, it is important to consider the individual details separately: the view of Derwentwater belongs to Terrace Road, while the country lanes and village stocks belong to the Keswick–Applethwaite–Millbeck circular walk.

You should also take the journey and your choice of starting point into account before booking. Access by car to Latrigg is via the A591 from Keswick to Bassenthwaite, either through Applethwaite or Ormathwaite. The villages of Applethwaite and Millbeck themselves, however, are not served by the X4 bus route. Stops on the A591 are served. The X4 runs between Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington, as well as through the villages in between.

Applethwaite is particularly well suited to a trip that combines nature trails, views and local history. When searching for accommodation, consider which focus is most important for your trip: walks on Skiddaw and to Dodd, the circular walk with country lanes and village stocks, the village’s historical side or orientation along the A591. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment or holiday cottage according to the experiences you have planned, without reducing Applethwaite to just one holiday theme.

Other places to consider

If you would like to compare other places alongside Applethwaite, here is a concise selection: Lowick, Crosthwaite, Killington, Troutbeck, Great Asby, Kendal, Nether Wasdale and Portinscale.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cumbria.