The Parish of Crosthwaite and Lyth border lies 5 miles west of Kendal, 5 miles north of Grange-over-Sands and 3 miles south of Bowness-on-Windermere. The M6 motorway is 5 miles from the parish. Manchester Airport is 82 miles to the south. The equivalent distances from Crosthwaite village are 5½ miles to Kendal, 11 miles to Grange, 6 miles to Bowness and 11 miles to the M6.
Some useful postcodes for your SatNav when visiting Crosthwaite - St. Mary's church & Punch Bowl Inn LA8 8HR, School LA8 8HT, Argles Memorial Hall & Bowling club LA8 8HU, Dodd's Howe LA8 8HX, Starnthwaite LA8 8JN & LA8 8HZ, Damson Dene hotel LA8 8JE.
Crosthwaite derives its name from the old Scandinavian word, "thwaite", meaning a clearing in a forest or a piece of land, which has been enclosed. This was blended with "Cross", which may reflect the earlier Christian connections with the Irish or Angle missionaries of the sixth or seventh century. The Norsemen also gave the Lyth Valley its name; "hlith" means sloping hillside.