Crow park

Overview

Crow Park is a large green area in Keswick in the Lake District that’s completely free to visit. Situated on the shores of Derwentwater, it’s the perfect spot for children to run around and let off some steam, families to enjoy picnics, couples to enjoy a sunset, and solo travellers to take in the views.

Crow Park is home to the plaque that designates the Lake District National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it hosted the 2018 event to mark the area as such.

Throughout the year, the National Trust-owned park is home to many different events, so check to see if there is one on during your visit. At other times, you may just find yourself sharing the space with some four-legged friends – sheep!

Is Crow Park dog friendly?

Yes, Crow Park is dog friendly. Be sure to keep your dog on a lead if there are sheep around.

What’s near Crow Park?

If you’re in need of refreshment during your visit, there are plenty of cafes nearby where you can get a drink and a bite to eat.

The park is sandwiched between Derwentwater and the Theatre by the Lake. The theatre has two stages and hosts a variety of different performances throughout the year. Tickets can be purchased online, and seeing a show here is a fantastic evening activity.

Crow Park is also around a 15-minute walk from Keswick town centre, where you’ll find an array of shops, pubs, and restaurants. There’s also Keswick Museum and the Derwent Pencil Museum, which are great activities for bad weather days.

Things to do at Crow Park

From al fresco dining to watching the sun go down at the end of the day, there’s plenty of free things to do at Crow Park in Cumbria.

Picnic blanket covered with bowls of fruit and salad

Picnic in the park

Prepare some sandwiches and snacks ahead of your visit in the self-catering kitchen at YHA Borrowdale and pop it all in a picnic basket. Crow Park is an excellent spot to indulge in some al fresco dining.

Family playing football on a summers day

Ball games

Or any games for that matter! There’s plenty of space at Crow Park, so bring the cricket set or a bat and ball and get active. Adults can chat while they keep an eye on the children – or join in!

Wild swimming in Derwentwater

Derwentwater is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Lake District, and it is surrounded by some of the most spectacular fells in the area, including Friar’s Crag and Catbells. It’s a great place to enjoy a refreshing wild swim and you can access the water from the shingle shore in Crow’s Park.

Row of wooden rowing boats on a lake shore

Watch the sunset

If you’re looking for a stunning place to watch the sun go down, then you won’t find much better than Crow Park. Seeing the yellow and orange hues illuminate the sky over Derwentwater is a truly special experience.

Why not bring a flask of hot chocolate (or maybe something stronger!) with you to drink as you enjoy the show?

Keswick Mountain Festival

Keswick Mountain Festival takes place at Crow Park each year in May. The festival is the number one mountain festival in the UK and offers outdoor sports and activities, live music, and camping. You can take part in the sports events or get inspired by some of the speakers.

Fly a kite

For some good old-fashioned fun on a breezy day, there’s nowhere better than Crow Park to learn how to fly a kite. Unwind the string, launch the kite, and see how high you can go.

Walk around the lake

From Crow Park, there is a footpath that you can explore. You can do an out-and-back route to stretch your legs, or you can walk the whole way around Derwentwater. The walk is on easy footpaths with way markers.

The entire walk is about 10 miles (16 kilometres) and should take approximately five to six hours at a leisurely pace.

How to get to Crow Park from YHA Borrowdale

Crow Park is about 6.7 miles (10.8 kilometres) from YHA Borrowdale. One of the easiest ways to get there is by public transport.

Public transport: There is a direct bus between YHA Borrowdale and Crow Park. You can catch the 78 Borrowdale Bus from the Longthwaite Road end stop, about a six-minute walk from YHA Borrowdale. Alight at the Daleview Hotel, and from there it’s around a seven-minute walk to Crow Park. The entire journey should take just over 35 minutes.

By car: It takes around 17 minutes to drive to Crow Park. The closest car park is the Lakeside Car Park, a pay and display car park where you’ll find accessible parking spaces and public toilets. Also nearby is Keswick Rugby Club car park.