Words By The Water Keswick

19/05/2026

Congratulations to all the incredible writers who have made the Lakeland Book of the Year Awards longlist! 🥳

This award has done so much to support writing in Cumbria over the years and it's well worth perusing their page and website for inspiration for your next read 📚

A longlist has been chosen! The judges met last weekend and made their decisions which can't have been easy as there was a very strong field this year. Well done to EVERYONE who entered their book.
After sending out congratulations and commiseration emails all day yesterday I can now share the longlist and look forward to a wonderful bookish celebration in July (link in comments)

Fiction
The Hotel at the Heart of the Lakes, Ellie Wood
Final Vow, Mike Craven
The River Brings the Sea, Ali Thurm
Helm, Sarah Hall

Guides and Places
Exploring Lake District Dales, Terry Marsh
Walking the King Charles III England Coast Path: North West, Ange Harker
Wainwrights without a Car, Ron Kenyon
The Lake District Trail and Fell Running Guide, Jenny Bushel

Landscape and Tradition
The Parallel Path, Jenn Ashworth
Middleland, Rory Stewart
Wigton and the Solway, Trevor Grahamslaw
59 Pairs of Socks, Alan Kingsland

Literature and Poetry
An A-Z of Beatrix Potter, Penny Bradshaw
Rembrandt,a self portrait, Stephen Mathews
Chasing the Phantom, Zoe Gilbert & Stephen Cooper
All Before Me, Esther Rutter

People and Business
Wings to Fly, Vicky Robinson
How to Build a Spitfire, David Price
The Postal Paths, Alan Cleaver
Mud, Mayhem and Moneymen, Jean McSorley

Illustration and Presentation
Defined by Stones, Ian Jackson
In Search of the Missing, Juliet Fossey
Outstanding Walks Lake District, Vivienne Crow
From Pillar Rock to the Matterhorn, Ashley Abraham

17/05/2026

We enjoyed a fascinating talk from journalist Paul Eastham on Friday Keswick Museum ...Paul was discussing 'Secrets of the Hidden People', his revisionist history of Cumbria which challenges the traditional view that Cumbria was conquered by the Vikings. Paul presented a very convincing argument and it was a thoroughly researched and fascinating talk.

Thank you Paul, Bookends Keswick , Keswick Museum and all who came along to this rescheduled festival event 📚📚📚

05/05/2026

The Paul Eastham event at Keswick Museum has now sold out! Call Bookends Keswick on 017687 75277 if you would like to join the waiting list.

Thank you all for your enthusiasm and support 🙏

23/04/2026

COMING SOON! 🥳

Paul Eastham - Secrets of the Hidden People

We're delighted to say this sold out talk has now been rescheduled to Friday 15th May at 3pm at Keswick Museum Keswick Museum

Cumbrians are called the Hidden People because mainstream history claims their Celtic heritage was erased by Roman, Viking, Anglo-Saxon and Norman invasions. This succession of incomes certainly tried to drive Cumbrian culture underground over centuries of suppression but ultimately failed.

Popular local historian Paul Eastham will reveal insights into Cumbria's deep Celtic past and unearth the Cumbrian character at the core.

🎟 Tickets: £8

After contacting all previous ticket holders there are still a handful of tickets available in Bookends Keswick . Please pop in or call 017687 75277 ☺️

21/04/2026

An excellent opportunity to find out more about University of Cumbria 's unique MA in Literature, Romanticism and the Lake District, led by Dr Penny Bradshaw...

16/03/2026

The stage is set for two elderly men to strut their stuff. The journalist/politician/novelist/diarist Chris Mullins joins me at ‘Words By The Water’ on Saturday, March 14th.

15/03/2026

A few more highlights from the last 48 hours... a whirlwind of wonderful speakers, bustling signing queues of excited readers, a sea of happy faces and a theatre packed with overflowing hearts and minds...

What was your favourite moment? And be honest, who came away with a towering new TBR pile?

Bookends Keswick Lee Child Tara Vallente Val McDermid

15/03/2026

One of the highlights of Words by the Water 2026. A huge thank you to The Arts Society Cumbria and Bendor Grosvenor for joining us at Theatre by the Lake this week.

Bookends Keswick

15/03/2026

Thanks for having us Theatre by the Lake We are so lucky to be able to hold our festival in your beautiful theatre, in this beautiful setting.

Bookends Keswick

It's the final day of Words by the Water...

Over five busy days, it’s been wonderful to see the theatre alive with writers and audiences coming together.

The festival concludes this afternoon with a very special Festival Finale. Sir Chris Bonington will be in conversation with Marie Elsa Bragg; a reflection on Chris' years in the Lake District and a lifetime spent amongst the world’s greatest mountains. We think this is a lovely fitting end to a great week of talks.

A big thank you to all the writers, speakers, partners and audiences who have helped make this year’s festival so special.