As a family, we had been planning our return to the Lake District ever since visiting the area all too briefly back in 2008. Then we had been in the south, visiting Kendall and then the village of Crosthwaite. This time, we based ourselves in the north, staying in Portinscale, just outside of Keswick (on Derwentwater). We rented a wonderful self-catering cottage there for a week and it was the perfect base from which to explore the region. We rented a car and thank goodness since it gave us the freedom to roam widely and freely. While continental Europe has public transportation neatly and thoughtfully designed for outdoor enthusiasts looking to walk and climb, England does not!
(Warning: these Lake District posts are going to have only the barest of details accompanied by an overwhelming number of photos!)
On our first full day, we set out from Portinscale and walked up Walla Crag, a small fell with beautiful views over Derwentwater. This was my favourite walk of the entire trip (and the only fell we ended up doing, unfortunately) and the views some of the most memorable. 
On the second day, we took a beautiful circular drive from Portinscale. It was a stunning day and we wanted to take advantage of the good weather to see as much of the area as we could – who knew what rain the rest of the week might bring! We went through the Newlands Valley, stopped at Buttermere where we walked around the lake, continued on to the Borrowdale Valley where we had lunch, and then finished the day at the Castlerigg Stone Circle.
View from Newlands Pass
Buttermere
Castlerigg Stone Circle
View from Castlerigg Stone Circle
And that is more than enough photos for one day!
The Captive Reader 
Lovely photos 🙂
Thanks!
Beautiful views! How was the tea room situation?
Dire! The Lake District is beautiful but not nearly so conveniently laid out as the Peak District. The best we could hope for in terms of amenities after most of our walks was an ice cream truck set up in a National Trust car park. Tea and cake would have been much preferred.
We have had glorious weather for most of July..at its most beautiful
We were in the Lake District during the last few days of June and the very beginning of July. The weather was good but mostly cloudy while we there – perfect for being outdoors. I know a long sunny, stretch began just as we left!
I’ve been up to Keswick numerous times over the past decade. I am lucky in that it is only a couple of hours away from me. I was there a few weeks before you and went to many of the same places, including Walla Crag and the exquisite Buttermere. Sorry you did not have much joy as regards tea rooms. The South Lakes area that you visited previously is geared more towards that market, whereas the central and northern lakes are more focused on those in search of outdoor adventure.
You are lucky! Re: the tea rooms, I wasn’t bothered by their absence but it does seem a lost opportunity for hospitality-minded entrepreneurs, since outdoor adventures needn’t mean the complete rejection of civilization. I love the German/Swiss model, where you can walk for hours up a mountain and then suddenly turn a corner and find a beer garden. As far as I’m concerned, it is the perfect combination!
The clouds are gorgeous!
Aren’t they lovely?
Got to love those names: Buttermere, Walla Crag, etc. And the photos are beautiful!
I love the name Buttermere. How could you not want to visit a place with “Butter” in the name?
Your photos are like paintings. Breathtaking beauty, captured well. Thank you for sharing them, Claire.
Thank you, Penny.