Smithy Cottage ref: 115103

About the local area

Portinscale at the foot of Derwentwater is neatly sandwiched between Keswick, only a mile away to the east, Bassenthwaite Lake just to the north and Whinlatter Forest Park to the west. All the essentials including a local pub serving bar meals, a restaurant and plenty of parking spaces can be found in the village.

There are two marinas on Derwentwater where sailing, windsurfing and canoeing are offered, either for instruction or hire and there is also a jetty where you can catch the motor launch that circuits the lake.

The beautiful Newlands Valley, one of the Lake Districts best kept secrets, is a few minutes walk away. This lush green valley has many opportunities for keen walkers with a great choice of gentle river strolls or more challenging all day hikes! The circuit of the Newlands Valley is one of the best ridge walks in the Lake District. The ever changing scenery and the many interesting sights along the way make this one of Wainwrights most famous and enjoyable walks. Newlands was once a favorite with Beatrix Potter. Here she set the scene for some of her well loved children’s classics such as 'The Tale of Mrs Tiggywinkle'. Sketches of Catbells, Skelgill and Little Town all feature in the novel. The Valley also has a great local pub, The Swinside Inn and an award winning restaurant Swinside Lodge.

This area is ideally located for mountain biking and cycling, the C2C cycle route passes through Portinscale and if you’ve forgotten your bicycle don’t worry; there are a number of bicycle hire shops in nearby Keswick. For the walkers the nearby fells of Catbells, Maiden Moor, Knott Rigg and Causey Pike and beckon.

Things to do nearby