The Coledale Inn Braithwaite

View of the historic Coledale Inn coaching inn from a wooden picnic bench in the pub garden, showing patrons sitting outside with the green Cumbrian fells rising in the background in Braithwaite near Keswick.

A Classic Walker’s Haven Near Keswick

Set above the quiet village of Braithwaite and the bottom of Whinlatter, The Coledale Inn is a traditional Victorian country pub built in the early 1800s as a woollen mill.

Just a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk from Keswick, it’s one of the best bases in the Lake District for hikers, offering hearty home-cooked food, local Cumbrian real ales, and classic mountain trails right from the doorstep.

Location: Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TF

Black and white Welcome to Braithwaite roadside sign with parking advice on a sunny day in the Lake District near Keswick. — The traditional roadside sign welcoming drivers turning off the A66 into the quiet fellside village of Braithwaite, located near Keswick at the foot of Whinlatter Pass.

Quick Details at a Glance

Parking: Free, private car park for guests on-site.
Dog-Friendly: Yeah dogs are welcome in selected rooms and the bar area.
Check-In / Out: Check-in from 1 pm | Check-out by 10 am.
Distance to Keswick: 2.5 miles (5-minute drive or 30/45 minute walk.

Rooms & Comfort

The inn has 20 traditional en-suite bedrooms suitable for solo fell-walkers, couples, and families:

Room Types: Single, Twin, Double, King, and Family rooms.
Facilities: En-suite bathrooms, tea/coffee trays, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and central heating.
Fell Views: Many rooms look straight out across the valley towards Skiddaw or up to Grizedale Pike.

Hearty Cumbrian Dining & Real Ale

After a long day out on the fells, The Coledale Inn is known for its generous, honest pub meals:

Pub Classics: Homemade pies, steaks, fresh battered fish, Cumberland sausage, and daily chef specials.
Breakfast: Full cooked Cumbrian breakfast served daily for residents.
Cosy Bars: Two traditional bar rooms with roaring log fires and a rotating selection of local Cumbrian ales.
Beer Garden: Elevated outdoor terrace with panoramic mountain views across the northern fells. Garden huts to relax in the evening.

Cosy wooden dining gazebo in The Coledale Inn beer garden lit up with warm fairy lights on an evening in Braithwaite. — The illuminated wooden seating hut in The Coledale Inn’s beer garden, offering an intimate, atmospheric spot for evening drinks and dining in Braithwaite.

Walks Straight From the Doorstep

The biggest perk of staying here is you never need to move your car:

The Coledale Horseshoe: A classic Lake District ridge walk taking in Grizedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Eel Crag, and Causey Pike.
Barrow & Outerside: Rewarding fells rising right behind the inn, perfect for a shorter afternoon hike.
Force Crag Mine: A dramatic, quite low-level walk right up to the rugged head of the Coledale Valley. View This Trail
Braithwaite Dam & Coledale Beck: A quiet, easy stream-side walk up a track; it’s a true local gem. View This Gem
Whinlatter Forest: Waymarked woodland walking trails, mountain biking, and a cafe just up the hill.