Keswick
Keswick, the chief tourist town of north Lakeland, sits happily among stunning scenery,
beautifully situated as it is between Derwentwater to the south
and the imposing heights of Skiddaw to the north. 
The grand peak of
Blencathra stands proudly to the north east, with Cat Bells
and the Derwent Fells to the south west. As such, Keswick is a popular town with both
fell-walkers and less energetic visitors, who come to enjoy Derwentwater, 'Queen of the
Lakes', and the other beauty spots in the area, including
Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ashness Bridge
and the Bowder Stone.
As indicated by the stone circle at nearby Castlerigg and the discovery of early stone tools at the village of Portinscale, Keswick dates back to Neolithic times. The town was granted a market charter by King Edward I in 1276. Keswick struggled to survive from a wool trade until around 1500, when an ore-mining industry developed and prospered with the help of experienced German miners who were brought to the region.
Later the discovery of graphite in Borrowdale led to the world's first pencil industry being formed in Keswick, and this was the mainstay of the local economy until the end of the 18th century. With the arrival of the railway in Keswick in 1865 a new industry was formed - tourism. Among the first to discover the beauty of Keswick were the first Lake Poets, including Samuel Coleridge and Robert Southey (Southey wrote Goldilocks and the Three Bears while in Keswick).
A walk around the small town centre reveals many charming Victorian buildings, notably the Moot Hall in the Market Square. Built in 1813 and featuring a single-handed clock, this fine building was once the town hall and prison. It is now used as a tourist information centre. A short distance from the town is Mirehouse Historic House and Gardens, a place for all the family, offering cultural interest and, for the children, a fine adventure playground.