Today’s article is a guest post by my lovely cousin Freya Kane.
I must admit, when I was on my way to the Lake District recently, I thought… I’m not going to be able to find any good vegan food. I thought that because it’s not a city it would be far too rural and I would struggle to even find options in chain restaurants! But, thankfully I was wrong! So wrong! Luckily, I found some amazing food on my Vegan Lake District trip and this is most definitely thanks to my vegan Airbnb hosts who gave me all the info I needed. So now I’m here to pass it on to you…
Vegan Lake District – Vegan Air BnB in Keswick
I stayed in Keswick, a small market town in the Lake District. The town features a gorgeous market square with lovely stalls, shops, restaurants, and hotels. The town is surrounded by lakes and mountains which make for some gorgeous scenery. You could also explore forests and woods, valleys or even venture to other villages in Cumbria during your time there.
I stayed overnight in an all-vegan Airbnb. Hands down the best Airbnb I’ve ever found! Everything from the furniture to the bed, toiletries in the bathroom and tea and snacks in your room – vegan, vegan, vegan! The hosts, husband and wife team Mike & Rosie were fabulous and so helpful.
This also brings me to my first food recommendation – the vegan Airbnb’s breakfast! Mike & Rosie offer a fantastic breakfast with continental and full English. Including homemade sausages, homemade granola and all manner of tasty vegan accompaniments. The breakfast does come at an extra charge, however, they ask for you to donate the money to one of the vegan charities they collect for. Here are some photos of the food, it was fantastic! (pictures)
Vegan Lake District – Bars and Restaurants…
eS Bar is a lovely little pub and a tapas restaurant. They have a vegan menu with lots of yummy food – here are some photos of the food I had! (photos)
The way of ordering is also really fun as you have a clipboard with the menu on. Tick what you want and take it back to the bar to place your order and pay. I think the recommended portions for tapas is about two or three dishes per person! (I probably had more than that).
If you’re looking for something quick and easy, Keswick has a Weatherspoons and they have their own vegetarian and vegan menu!
Kat’s Kitchen, as I was told by my vegan Airbnb hosts, is the place that kicked off the vegan scene in Keswick! And made other restaurants realise that they need to offer more meat-free and vegan food. Kat’s Kitchen prides itself on offering a warm and friendly atmosphere with lots of homemade, satisfying food. They even make their own plant milks! Including Kat’s own ‘golden milk blend’ for your hot drinks.
Mrs F’s Fine Food Emporium is a tea room in Keswick which offers vegetarian and vegan options available. The interiors look really cute, with comfy armchairs and vintage china cups and saucers! Some vegan options mentioned on Trip Advisor include vegan soups and cakes. This place seems like it would be great for a quirky pit stop to have a hot drink and snack. It is also noted that Mrs F’s cater to dairy allergies very well! So that’s good to know for peace of mind.
What to do in Keswick?
Heres some inspiration of what you can do in this lovely town after you’ve eaten all your great vegan food! Keswick is the perfect place for a weekend break or even an overnight stay. I actually stayed there overnight on my way up to Scotland.
Walking, Hiking and Cycling
If you’re keen on walking, hiking, or cycling, then you might be an expert in setting up your own routes. If not, then you could always follow a recommended route from Visit Keswick. Alternatively, you could opt to take an organised tour around this part of the Lake District.
Lakes
Bare in mind that in Keswick, you are really close to Lake Windermere. This is one of the most popular lakes in the whole of the Lake District. So, if you’re driving, then you should definitely try and check out this iconic landmark. Hopefully, the weather will be nice enough for you to do a boat trip around the lake and take in the sights. As for lakes in Keswick, the main lake is Derwentwater, which has a marina that offers tuition in canoeing, windsurfing, and other activities. You could also get canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, rowing boats, dinghys and windsurfers for hire!
Shopping
As Keswick is a market town, they have a wonderful market on a Thursday and Sunday, right in the heart of the town. I had a look around the market when I was there and found some lovely stalls selling hand made crafts, clothes, candles, food, gifts and things for pets! That reminds me, Keswick, and the Lake District, in general, is very dog-friendly! Lots of establishments allow you to take dogs inside and you will see so many cute pooches! You will also find lots of your favourite high street shops in Keswick. Something you will see a lot of in the Lake District is Mountain Warehouse stores! You can fulfill all your hiking needs! I ended up having to buy a Pac-a-Mac as soon as I arrived because I didn’t anticipate the rain!
Museums
Keswick has a few interesting museums which would be a great activity to do to pass time and learn something or entertain children! You could go to the museum of Keswick to learn about the history of the town, landscapes, and culture. The Derwent Pencil Museum seems to be more interesting than it first appears. This location is the home of the first pencil. As a result, you can learn about graphite mines, machinery and the history of pencil making. There are also art workshops and demonstrations on offer! Lastly, Puzzling Place might be a fun thing to do to keep little ones occupied. It’s not very big, however, its a cheap activity! It is a funhouse style museum of illusions with some fun photo opportunities.