Why do people come to Keswick specifically for dog walks? With the tourist information centre in the middle of town and virtually every shop being open to dogs walking in and out leisurely with their owners, Keswick is a very relaxed place for anyone who wants to treat their little ones to a special day out. In the tourist information centre there will be someone who could point the owners to a good few dog friendly walks around Keswick. Alongside that, there are ten to the dozen of leaflets and maps guiding the reader around the Lake District.
Take a camera out with you and explore the outdoors properly. There are so many lovely landscapes and creatures you and your dog could discover on the way. Because of the quiet nature of the Lake District, a wander around won’t ever be exhausting but will fill a day up. A picnic and frisbee are a perfect combination for any one of the suggested walks from the leaflets and maps available in most shops. There are even people who take their dogs on hikes into the mountains with them, sail in canoes with them. After speaking to a few members of the public in Keswick, I have learned that there are plenty of activities other than walking that you can involve your dogs in.
A thing you’ll see a lot of, is dogs walking around in brightly coloured raincoats and waterproof booties to protect their feet. Keswick sells these sorts of accessories for puppies to shield them from the weather that the Lake District are so commonly known for - Rain! Every now and again you’ll see an owner and their dog matching raincoats, which is always cute. Whippets are the more likely breed to be sporting these colourful raincoats.
Some places that I can recommend to the viewer to take their dogs would be Ullswater which is an 8 mile walk, a path alongside the lake gives opportunity for a lot of paddling and stick fetching with your pup. Keswick to Threlkeld is also 8 miles long, on route theres a lovely hill which once conquered provides a beautiful view of the lanscape (photo opportunity). On both walks there are pubs and cafe stops for those less able.
A few Dog Friendly shops around town
On my trip to Keswick, I managed to get some lovely photos of these little guys. The public were very friendly, letting me pet and take some snaps of them, some were even interested in the project I was studying. That’s one thing I can say fairly confidentaly, that the people who bring their dogs here are nice people, approachable. Here are a few sketches I managed to do based from the picutres I took.ww
When walking around the streets of Keswick, there are a few things that are guarenteed to be in view outside most shops. One being a water bowl next to the entrance that is regularly topped up for any thirsty little pups on their trips out into the Lake District, and the other being ‘Dogs Welcome’ signs dotted around in shop windows.
Here are a variety of signs I found while I was out there. The medal for most creative approach will have to go to the Dog and Gun for the little H20 Beer barrel next to the exit. All shops are extremely friendly and welcome dogs with open arms. Its such a pleasant place to take your dogs for a nice day out, to stretch their legs.