Walks from Our Door. Ambleside to Rydal Water Via the Coffin Route, Back Along Under Loughrigg

Walks from our door. Ambleside to Rydal water via the coffin route, back along under loughrigg. This walk is a low level, therefore relatively flat. It takes in some beautiful views across the valley, a choice of either tea rooms and pub for lunch a lake and historic houses. 1) From our front door, walk up the road towards Rattle Ghyll fine foods, at the top of the road turn left walking past The Apple pie Café and the iconic Bridge House. Carry on this road until you get to Rydal Lodge (Between the Apple Pie and Bridge House you will have gone over Stock Ghyll, on the other side of the main road on the bridge is a marker that shows above stock and below stock, anyone who lived above stock was buried in Grasmere and their coffins were carried by the women along the coffin route) 2) At Rydal lodge cross over the main road, through the gate that leads to the coffin route and walk along it enjoying the views, there are normally cows and sheep grazing in the meadows on either side of the path. When you reach Rydal Hall there is a choice of gate and stile. (Rydal Hall is currently used as a spiritual retreat, there is a tearoom here in the old schoolhouse, and some stunning gardens, which include a Victorian Grot as part of their quiet garden and a sculpture trail in the wooded area which takes you past the game larder and ice house.) 3) From the tea rooms, carry on the coffin route and you will very shortly meet a small lane, just at the top of this is Rydal Mount, the home of William Wordsworth, this currently houses a museum, he was a keen gardener so his gardens are well worth stopping off for, and they do a great cream tea. 4) Go down the lane until you meet the A591, turn right, past Dora’s Field until you get to The Badger, this is a 17th century coaching inn, another good place for a rest if you prefer, then cross the road and taking the wooden footbridge over the River Rothay join a footpath which will meander along the river and through some trees until you come out onto the shore of Rydal Water, this is quite a good place for wild swimming, 5) Carry on along the shore path until the end of Rydal water, you will join some other paths, take the sharp left this is the higher path which will lead you back the way you came past Rydal Cave, certainly worth a stop to look around, the acoustics from just inside the entrance are amazing and outside affords amazing views of the valley across to Nab Scar. 6) Carry until you meet a gate that takes you out to a lane, walk down the lane, past Pelter Car Park, where the lane meets Under Loughrigg turn right towards home (There may be an ice cream van here if you are lucky) 7) A short way down on the left are some stepping stones over the river, you can cross them on a good day, carry on this road until you meet a stone bridge taking you across the river into Rothay Park, the path straight through the park brings you out to the back of St Mary’s Church. .

Load more