home
Rydal Water in the Lake District
Welcome to the EDGE Guide to Rydal Water in Cumbria.
Length: under a mile.
Nearest towns:
Ambleside S on the A591, 1.5mls/2km.
Bowness & Windermere S on the A591, 6mls/10km.
Keswick N on the A591, 13mls/21km.
A pretty lake (though lake is perhaps the wrong word - tarn may be more appropriate) and in a lovely spot.
Apart from the peaceful and picturesque setting there are other attractions very close by: Rydal Mount where the poet Wordsworth lived from 1813 until his death: it is open to the public and well worth visiting even if you have no interest in poetry.
Walks:
Turn off the A591 and then to your right once over the hump back bridge; to your left is a car park from where you begin a very pleasant, easy walk.
You have the choice of two paths: one goes down to the lake shore; the other higher path leads to nearby Grasmere Lake and village, this path has very pleasant views over both of the lakes.
It is not too much further to the village of Grasmere where you will find a wide choice of places to eat should you need rest and sustenance, though this is not by any means a hard walk.
The hills and fells that surround the valley are littered with public footpaths and these should be taken advantage of.
In the heart of the Lake District between Grasmere and Lake Windermere.
