Rydal Water Circular is a 2.8 mile loop trail located near Ambleside, Cumbria, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
A circular walk from the village of Rydal in the Lake District, Cumbria. The walking route performs a loop around Rydal Water, a small lake covering an area of a third of a square kilometre. Rydal Water may be one of the smallest lakes in the Lake District, however what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in sheer beauty as it sits glistening at the foot of Loughrigg Fell. This area inspired much of Wordsworth's poetry and you will pass his former home. The lake is supplied and drained by the River Rothay, which flows from Grasmere upstream and towards Windermere downstream. You will enjoy beautiful woodlands, lakeside views and follow a stretch of the old coffin road plus Loughrigg Terrace, one of the most beautiful half-miles in lakeland. The walk includes a few climbs and descents throughout, with a couple of steep sections but nothing too long. The total ascent is only around 150 metres. If follows stretches of well-made stone paths and tracks for the most part. You will need to negotiate several gates and footbridges but there are no stiles. You will come across grazing sheep and there are two road crossings that need care.
The village of Rydal is a small cluster of houses, church and hotel on the A591 road, about midway between Ambleside and Grasmere. The walk begins outside Rydal Church and there is roadside parking here with an honesty box (£2 payable to the church â correct Autumn 2018). Arrive early to secure a space here. If this area is full, you could use the White Moss pay-and-display car park on the A591 (close to Waypoint 4) and adjust the walk to start there. Approximate post code for church LA22 9LR.
April 10, 2021lovely walk, beautiful views! we took a detour to Rydal Caves, definitely reccomend!!! Parking is a struggle as the car parks fill up pretty quickly although they do take card which is a bonus!
April 2, 2021Very nice walk with nice views
March 30, 2021WOW that was a really nice walk, our dog loved it and even teens enjoyed it, lots of mountain streams, waterfalls, even we extended our walk to see the cave. Amazing
February 14, 2021Nice but this route misses the caves and the second half runs mostly next to a wall which obscures the views
January 10, 2021lovely moderate walk, great for families, lots of interesting spots to explore.
December 30, 2020December 27, 2020Great easy walk with good accessibility for all. Can get busy though
December 19, 2020December 16, 2020December 12, 2020Can make it as easy or hard as you like! Saw people with push chairs and kids, good all rounder
October 30, 2020A very nice walk around Rydal Water. Woodland, waters edge and hillside with beautiful panoramic views of the water from elevation.
October 27, 2020It was a lot steeper then we were expecting. But generally very pretty even on a rainy foggy day.
October 26, 2020October 26, 2020An easy walk, route was easy to follow. It was a busy route with lots of other walkers. The path at White Moss was flooded meaning we had to take a detour. I recorded the route on my smart watch as slightly longer than suggested. Great views of Rydal water.
October 11, 2020Absolutely stunning route, really easy for kids. We did this the day after a hard route for recovery. Wear appropriate footwear
September 27, 2020Nice slightly extended version. Nice and flat following a mountain hike yesterday
September 17, 2020September 8, 2020Bit of a busy one but a lovely circle route around the lake with plenty of great views. Lots of spots for the dogs to have a dip in the water.
August 30, 2020August 30, 2020August 29, 2020Beautiful relaxed walk for the inexperienced hiker. I would go back for sunrise, get the place to yourself and it would be complete bliss!
August 21, 2020super easy track, easy to walk very well signed. nice views and super quiet (21st August 2020). I do recommend.
August 9, 2020Stunning views! Great place to relax by the Rydal Water. Amazing bike route (not easy for 5y old)
July 28, 2020Lovely walk, I went I to the caves on the loop, the first cave is awkward to get in and out of, if you don’t want to climb go the second cave further up the trail.
July 25, 2020Stunning views over the water and surrounds. Few paths where you can climb to get panoramic views but you can avoid these by sticking to the lower path if you wish. We just walked the path along the waterfront and back again, it took just over an hour.
July 19, 2020Great trail. Lovely views of the lake and the caves were something different to see. Not overly challenging so good for all the family. Thoroughly enjoyed the walk.
July 18, 2020easy, chilled, gorgeous lake perfect for kayaking??? best caves seen in while. wordsworth house and tea rooms too.
July 11, 2020Even on a cloudy day, the scenery around Rydal is amazing. The caves were a very nice surprise. We had no idea they were that big. Easy walk to Grasmere for lunch. Downside was that it was very touristy. First parking space was full so we had to find a different one. 100% must see when in the Lake District though!
June 28, 2020Areas were flooded, Rydal cave was a lovely place to visit. Definitely coming back in better weather as paths were flooded badly and uncrossable in areas and had to make detours into muddy areas.
