George Fisher in Keswick, the outdoor shop with mountain roots

In a town that lives and breathes the outdoors, one shop has been part of the furniture for almost seventy years. George Fisher in Keswick is one of England's oldest outdoor shops, and it remains a place where walkers come for kit, advice and a sense of mountain heritage.

The shop was established in 1957 by its founder, George Fisher, who was the leader of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team. That background gave the business credibility from the outset: this was a shop run by someone who knew exactly what the fells could throw at people.

Its home has a story of its own. The building at the southern end of the town centre dates from 1887, and from then until 1967 it housed the photographic firm founded in 1869 by George Perry Abraham. His sons, George Dixon and Ashley Perry Abraham, were celebrated mountain photographers and pioneer rock climbers.

That climbing connection makes the building a fitting home for an outdoor retailer. The store has grown into a 9,000 square foot shop, which, at the time of its 2007 sale, had a staff of 46.

In 2007 the business was bought by Tiso, the outdoor retailer founded in 1962 by mountaineer Graham Tiso. Even under new ownership, the George Fisher name and its Keswick identity have been kept, and the shop continues to trade under its own banner.

Inside, the emporium is devoted to hiking maps, books, clothing, rucksacks, ski gear and navigational aids, and trained staff are on hand to help customers choose the right kit for their plans. The shop has kept evolving. A refurbishment added a water sports department and marked 55 years of trading.

George Fisher has also taken its approach beyond Cumbria, opening a store in Harrogate, its first outside the Lake District, which local press welcomed after seven decades of success in Keswick.

For walkers heading into Borrowdale or up onto the surrounding fells, a visit to the Keswick shop remains something of a ritual. The shop on Borrowdale Road is the place to go for kit, advice and a browse before heading out.