The successful Park and Sail initiative, hailed as a great success in 2021, will return this year.
The scheme, run by Keswick Launch Company, Keswick Rugby Club, the Portinscale community, Lake District National Park and Keswick Tourism Association aims to help reduce vehicle overload on the west side of Derwentwater, as well as helping to reduce vehicle emissions in the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site.
Park and Sail involves Keswick Rugby Club’s 200 car parking space, particularly its previously under-used 150 space overspill car park. Users pay £4 for a day for parking which entitles them to a 15 per cent discount off the launch services on that day for the voucher presenter and up to a maximum of four of their passengers.
Keswick Launch Company is now operating a shuttle service to Hawse End at the foot of Cat Bells, in addition to its other services. Users access the launches by a short walk through Crow Park.
Douglas Hodgson, of Keswick Launch Company, said: “We are delighted to again team up with Keswick Rugby Club and to encourage people to access the west side of Derwent Water and the wider area in this fantastic way and sustainable way.”
Trevor Keough, of Keswick Rugby Club, added: “It’s just great to be able to do this again. Everyone wins with the scheme; the club, Keswick Launch Company, the local community and visitors.”
Day trippers walking Cat Bells or visiting the west side of the lake are again expected to be the main beneficiaries of Park and Sail, but users can always take a cruise round the whole lake.
Vanessa Metcalfe, of Keswick Tourism Association, said: “The Hawse End shuttle is brilliant for accessing Cat Bells but there is so much more which can be done via Launch including the Newlands Fells, Ashness Fells, Lodore, Grange, Castle Crag and of course Lingholm and Portinscale. We will be sharing some of these walks in blogs and on social media over the course of the year.”
Emma Moody, lead strategy adviser, Lake District National Park Authority, added: “Once again this year, we are asking all visitors to look after the Lake District and be ‘Lake District Kind’. By using Park and Sail you can have a more relaxing and enjoyable day out whilst looking after the environment and benefitting the local community.”
John Wilson, of Portinscale community group DSSTAG, added: “A launch trip to, or from, Hawse End has to be the best way to start or end any fell walk. A world class experience in itself – no doubt. There are also great places to eat and drink on the west of the lake.”
