Portinscale is the village closest to Keswick, just a mile away by car or a very pleasant 15 minute level walk via the suspension bridge over the river Greta and along the Howrah’s footpath.

Next to the shores of Derwentwater, watersport enthusiasts are well catered for with hire of canoes, kayaks, rowing boats, dinghys and windsurfers as well as tuition at Derwentwater and Nichol End marinas. Both marinas have waterside café areas. Portinscale is an ideal base for a walking holiday. On the doorstep are the starting points for the very popular walks up Catbells, Causey Pike and the Coledale Horseshoe as well as the Newlands Round. A short walk from Portinscale takes you to the landing stage at Nichol End from where you can join the Keswick launch. You can enjoy a leisurely cruise around the lake or plan a walk combined with a boat trip. There are also lovely walks in the Newlands Valley.

Facilities in the village include The Chalet Tearooms and Restaurant and The  Farmers Arms pub, both serving high quality food for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. The Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden, a 10 minute stroll from the village, has a fantastic cafe overlooking an  octagonal walled garden that sits on the same spot as the old Lingholm kitchen gardens that Beatrix Potter credited as her original inspiration for Mr McGregor’s garden in The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

The area around Portinscale is well known for its links with Beatrix Potter. Between 1885 and 1907 the Potter family took their summer holidays at Lingholm and Fawe Park on the Western shores of Derwentwater where Beatrix spent many hours making sketches of the woods, gardens and landscape which were to feature in several of her books.