bassenthwaite heritage...
Mirehouse (NY 233 284)
Historic house and gardens on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake with lakeside walks, woodland playgrounds, poetry walk, heather maze and rhododendron tunnel. The house was built in 1666 and has been sold only once since then. In 1802 the Spedding family acquired Mirehouse and have been resident ever since. The house has strong literary connections with Tennyson, Southey and Wordsworth, who were all friends of the Speddings. Parking in Dodd Wood car park (10 min walk) where the Old Sawmill tearoom is located.
St Bega's Church, Bassenthwaite
A romantically sited church on the lakeshore at Bassenthwaite dating back to 950 AD, but extensively renovated in 1874. The church can be accessed from Mirehouse or from a minor road at grid reference NY 230 294, with both routes involving a10 to15 minute walk across fields.
Crosthwaite Church (NY 257 243)
The church is dedicated to St Kentigern (also known as St Mungo) who came to Keswick in 553 A.D. An early chapel was built on the spot, followed by a Norman church in 1181. The present church has a unique set of consecration crosses that mark the points where the ‘new' building was laid out in 1523. The churchyard holds the grave of Canon Rawnsley (co-founder of the National Trust) who died in 1920 and the tomb of Robert Southey.
By cycle
The Sea to Sea (C2C) (Route 71) from Whitehaven (or Workington) to Newcastle (or Sunderland) passes through Keswick on its 140-mile (225 km) route.
The Cumbria Way Cycle Route is the cycling version of the Cumbria Way. The route starts in Ulverston and finishes in Carlisle, passing through Keswick and Bassenthwaite along 72 miles (116 km) of country roads, off-road trails and bridleways.
The Reivers Cycle Route (Route 10) explores 170 miles (273 km) of history and scenery in Border Reiver country between the North Coast and the Irish Sea. The route starts in Tynemouth and ends in Whitehaven, passing to the north of Bassenthwaite Lake.
Whinlatter Forest on the western side of Bassenthwaite Lake has over 50 km of forest tracks to explore. Two new mountain bike trails have now been installed.
