The other lakes are all within an hour or two's travelling by car from the town, as are locations for walks and rambles, both gentle and demanding. The town is home to a fine selection of shopping arcades, can boast two castles, two museums, a host of historical buildings and bridges, fine restaurants, a multitude of public houses, and views that would please the most demanding photographer including the nearby ruin of Kendal Castle.
The pleasant Lakeland village of Underbarrow lies to the west of the town of Kendal and sits at the foot of Helsington Barrow, a limestone ridge rising to around 700 feet. Underbarrow stands at the centre of a network of roads linking Kendal to Crosthwaite in the Lyth Valley, Newby Bridge and Ulverston and the village of Crook to Levens making it idea to explore all the surrounding areas with ease.
Further west is the small village of Crosthwaite which is an ideal point from which to explore the Windermere and South Lakes area and, with walks right from the door, it will please keen walkers and hikers.