Hope Park Games and Café

Hope Park Games and Café sits between Keswick town centre and Derwentwater, making it an easy stop on the way to the lake — or a reason to take the scenic route back. Gardens, woodland walks and a bird hide offer a gentler pace, while crazy golf, putting and remote-controlled boats bring out the competitive streak in the rest of the group.

Café Hope serves breakfast, lunch, homemade cakes and cream teas, with coffee, ice cream and something stronger available too. It’s a handy place to refuel after a walk, compare golf scores or discuss how a quick trip to the lake somehow became a whole afternoon.

Dogs are welcome inside and out, with free treats, water bowls and a full dog menu giving them rather more to look forward to than crumbs under the table. In summer, there’s even a doggie paddling pool for cooling tired paws. The café has won the UK’s most dog-friendly café award for the past three years and is a finalist again this year — a welcome with a track record to match.