Wordsworth's Grasmere and Rydal

Continue through the village until you reach the open green area (public toilets in the corner). Opposite is the Alfred Heaton Cooper studio established in 1905. His artist son William Heaton Cooper built the present gallery in 1938. To the left of the gallery is a corner cafe; follow the lane alongside and pass through a stone gateway and up the drive. To the left is Allen Bank where the Wordsworths lived for 2 years from 1808 after leaving Dove Cottage. Allen Bank was not popular with William on account of its smoking chimneys, but his sister Dorothy liked it saying, " wherever we turn there is nothing more beautiful than we see from our windows". Canon Rawnsley, one of the founders of the National Trust, lived here from 1917 until his death in 1920 leaving it to the Trust.

Follow the footpath across the field down to the right and round the back of the Glenthorn Hotel. At the road turn right and then left at the Silver Lea Guest House and follow the track alongside Buthallyp Howe until you reach Broadgate opposite Rothay Garden Hotel. Turn right and cross the road to enter the playing field and follow the riverside path. You will pass a plaque of the planting of an Oak tree by Canon Rawnsley on Peace Day - 19th July 1919. Continue along the riverside walk crossing and recrossing the river until arrive back at Stock Lane car park; you have covered 2-miles.

Head away from the village on Stock Lane, to the left is the Grasmere Sports Field on which events such as 'Westmorland wrestling' and 'the Guides race' have been staged since 1852 and is held on Bank Holiday Sunday at the end of August. Cross the main road and ahead is the new 'Jerwood Centre' for poetry workshops, readings and events, then Dove Cottage which was the home of William Wordsworth from December 1799 to May 1808, the years of his supreme work as a poet. Today about 70,000 people visit Dove Cottage with a guided tour telling the story of the house and family. Continue up the lane noticing on the left at the end of the wall the 'Coffin Stone' or 'Resting Stone'. Before Ambleside had its own church coffins had to be transported along the 'corpse road' to Grasmere for burial. Ahead take the left fork in the road - this is the 'coffin road' to Rydal and passes White Moss Tarn where Wordsworth used to ice-skate. Continue along the undulating path with extensive views over Rydal Water to Loughrigg and beyond, eventually reaching Rydal.

This was Wordsworth's best loved family home for the greater part of his life from 1813 to his death in 1850 at the age of 80. It was here that he published the final version of his most famous poem 'Daffodils'. The house now belongs to descendants of Wordsworth and together with the garden is open to the public, there is also a tea room.

After viewing Rydal Mount crossover to Rydal Hall, following the rear drive around the back of the hall to another tea shop overlooking Rydal Beck. Rydal Hall (not open to the public) was previously the home of the Le Flemming family before being sold to the Diocese of Carlisle in the 1960's. Walk around to the front of the hall to view the restored Thomas Mawson garden (open). The Italianate terracing, lawns and herbaceous borders are set against the imposing architecture of the Hall. Next return to the side path and follow this beyond the formal terraced garden to the Quiet garden below. Enter and follow the path around to the waterfalls at 'The Grot' , a 1668 building to provide a window to frame and enjoy the lower Rydal Beck Falls. Exit the Quiet garden and follow infront of the hall below the terrace and tend left to leave the grounds by a path and perimeter gate turning left and down to St. Mary's Church.

Built by Lady le Fleming in 1823 at a cost of £1,500. William Wordsworth helped to choose the site, which was originally an orchard. Continue through the churchyard and enter Dora's field by a swing gate. This was called 'The Rash' field and was owned by Wordsworth. After his daughter died in 1847 Wordsworth together with his wife, sister and gardener, planted hundreds of daffodils as a memorial to Dora.

Leave Dora's Field by the lower gate onto the main road and turn right. Opposite the 'Badger Bar' cross over the busy road and follow a path through the wall to cross the River Rothay by a footbridge. This path continues to the right keeping to the lake shore eventually leaving to gain higher ground. Keep by the righthand wall to descent to the lake 'Grasmere' at Penny Bridge. Don't cross the bridge but keep to the lakeshore until forced to leave it at a boathouse. The path now climbs away from the lake to reach a lane, turn right to head back to 'Grasmere' the village. The lane passes a 'Boats for Hire', more opportunity for refreshments !!