I was hunting for a convenient mid-way point between Stirling and Worksop (where I was off to sit a cheese exam).
Not a fan of a crowded service station I wanted somewhere to stretch my legs and have a peaceful coffee and cake. Cue a quick search of Atlas Obscura which suggested stopping at Keswick to visit the Derwent Pencil Museum.
The Lake District in August is absolutely packed with tourists and when I arrived in Keswick, the main street resembled Oxford Street on a Saturday. Those seeking the idyllic peace and quiet of a rural Cumbrian village would be disappointed.
Luckily for me, I just wanted a peak at pencils and a snack.
The pencil museum was easy to find with plenty of parking!
And your ticket to the museum is … a pencil!
some information about pencil making through the ages…
and links with James Bond…
Did you know Charles Fraser-Smith was the inspiration for “Q” in the Ian Fleming’s James Bond? Fraser-Smith invented gadgets for soldiers the War, including a pencil with a secret compartment to hide a map and a compass and the Cumberland Pencil Co was his manufacturer of choice.
Sadly today the pencil factory is closed and production has moved about 20 miles down the road – the abandoned factory still stands next to the museum.
On a happier note, the pencil museum has its very own Artisan Cafe serving teas, coffees and snacks and on a sunny August day I even managed to get a table outside!
So if you’re on holiday in the Lake District and hunting for a little oasis of calm in high season, I’d definitely recommend the pencil museum, its car park and wee cafe!
The Exploring Cat. Weird museums, unfrequented, underwhelming places, the road less travelled. 