The pretty market town with gorgeous views and the Lake District's best independent shops

Cradled between two of the Lake District's most popular mountain hikes, Skiddaw and Blencathra, one pretty market town makes the ideal weekend escape. Its cobbled streets and Georgian square are lined with independent shops and cafes, while its views are considered among the best in Europe, according to an esteemed writer and artist.

You'll find artisan chocolatiers, quaint cafes, and plenty of outdoor shops in one of the Lake District's most charming and lively market towns, Keswick. Try to align your visit with the twice-weekly market on Thursday and Saturday, brimming with more than 60 stalls selling Cumbrian produce and handmade crafts, which is said to date back to the 13th Century.

In the centre of Keswick, you can find The Makers Mill, a creative venue with art studios and a public gallery selling work from around 30 local artists, including handmade ceramics, textiles and jewellery.

It also hosts workshops where you can try your hand at various skills, such as stone carving or felt painting.

Beyond the shops, you can enjoy lakeside walks around Derwentwater, framed with mountains and forests, where one of the best views in Europe is located at Friars Crag, according to travel writer John Ruskin, who lived by nearby Coniston Water.

Just a short walk from the town centre, past the beautiful Hope Park gardens and along the shoreline, you reach the stunning viewpoint over Derwentwater.

As you reach the Crag, you'll see a monument highlighting the artist's words about his first visit to the viewpoint in 1824. It reads: "The first thing I remember an event in life was being taken by my nurse to the brow of Friars Crag on Derwentwater".

Ruskin was five at the time, and years later, he still said the spot was one of the finest views in Europe.

The town is just 25 minutes away from the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike, making it an ideal stop for hikers attempting the Three Peaks Challenge or those who simply fancy a picturesque hike.