Applethwaite combines hiking opportunities with tangible traces of its village history. The hike up Skiddaw starts here; at the same time, a historic mill, slate quarrying and a surviving feature at Applethwaite Farmhouse point to different aspects of the village. This gives you a clear focus when choosing where to stay: you can put the walking destinations around Skiddaw at the centre of your trip and include the local traces of building and land use as a second layer.

Landscape and views

Applethwaite and Millbeck lie together at the foot of Skiddaw’s south-facing slope. Quiet Terrace Road connects the two villages; from there, the view reaches as far as the head of Derwentwater. The mountainside and the view towards Derwentwater thus offer two distinct ways to experience the landscape. If you are getting to know the area through its scenery, you can consider these perspectives alongside the walking destinations.

Hiking: Skiddaw, Dodd or a circular walk

Applethwaite is the starting point for the hike up Skiddaw. You can also walk directly to Dodd from Applethwaite and Millbeck. Another option is the Keswick–Applethwaite–Millbeck circular walk: it reaches Applethwaite via field paths and passes the village stocks on the way back through the village. The options differ in their destinations and route types: a hike up Skiddaw starting in Applethwaite, a walk to Dodd from either village, or a circular walk that passes a historic village feature. You can first decide which destination or type of route you want to shape your walking day.

Village history in tangible details

An original plank door with 17th-century hinges and wooden pegs survives at Applethwaite Farmhouse. The mill in Applethwaite was used particularly for making blankets; Applethwaite Ghyll was a site of slate quarrying. Together, these details represent different themes: a specific building feature, blanket production and the use of the land for slate quarrying. The village’s history can therefore be explored through architecture as well as through former work and the extraction of materials.

Getting here and planning bus travel

Access to Latrigg by car is via the A591 between Keswick and Bassenthwaite, either through Applethwaite or Ormathwaite. When planning bus travel, it is important to note that the X4 serves stops on the A591, but not Applethwaite or Millbeck themselves. The route runs between Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington, as well as through villages in between. If you plan to use the X4, check the timetable in advance and use the stops on the A591. This lets you plan your journey around your chosen mode of transport without assuming that bus services run through the villages.

Choose Applethwaite as a destination

If you are planning a stay that combines hiking and village history, you can explore Applethwaite through these two themes. The different walking destinations and tangible historical details give you a range of starting points.

Discover more destinations: Levens, Sedbergh, Ainstable, Portinscale, Workington, Patterdale, Kirkby Stephen, Winscales.

For the wider travel overview: Cumbria.