Applethwaite – Walking in Skiddaw and village history

Applethwaite combines walking in Skiddaw with the history of the village. Together with Millbeck, the village lies at the foot of Skiddaw’s south-facing slope. For travellers looking to combine scenery and local history in their travel plans, specific walking destinations and historical details can be found side by side here. If you are looking for a hotel for a walking-focused stay, the routes and local features can help you decide what to focus on.

Walking destinations and circular route

Applethwaite is a starting point for walking up Skiddaw. A walk to Dodd can be undertaken directly from Applethwaite and Millbeck. The destinations offer different focuses: one walk centres on Skiddaw, the other on Dodd. When choosing between these walks, the first consideration is therefore which mountain you would like to include in your plans.

Another option is the Keswick–Applethwaite–Millbeck circular walk. It reaches Applethwaite via field paths; on the return to Applethwaite, it passes the village stocks. For your walk, follow the current local safety guidance. The circular route complements the mountain destinations with a walk connected to the village’s history.

Scenery between Applethwaite and Millbeck

Applethwaite and Millbeck lie together at the foot of Skiddaw’s south-facing slope. The quiet Terrace Road connects the two villages and offers views as far as the head of Derwentwater. Skiddaw is therefore both a feature of the landscape and a walking destination from Applethwaite. The view of Derwentwater, by contrast, is from Terrace Road and adds a different landscape perspective to the mountain views.

Traces of local history

The village’s history encompasses different kinds of local work. The mill in Applethwaite was used especially for making blankets. Applethwaite Ghyll was a site of slate quarrying. The mill and the ghyll thus represent two different historical activities: blanket making and slate extraction. An architectural detail adds to this working history: Applethwaite Farmhouse still has an original plank door with 17th-century hinges and wooden pegs. While the mill and slate quarrying tell of work in the past, the door provides a specific example of architectural history.

Getting here and transport

The road route to Latrigg by car follows the A591 from Keswick to Bassenthwaite, either via Applethwaite or Ormathwaite. The X4 serves the area differently: it stops at bus stops on the A591, not in the villages of Applethwaite and Millbeck themselves. The service runs between Penrith, Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington, and through the villages in between. If you plan to travel on the X4, check the current timetable before setting off.

This distinction makes your travel plans more concrete and helps you decide whether Applethwaite suits the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Eskdale, Alston, Winscales, Sedgwick, Allerdale District, Broughton, Barbon, Ulverston.

For the broader travel overview: Cumbria.