Rydal Water stands in the beautiful Rothay Valley close to the hamlet of Rydal, this small very popular stretch of water is well-known for its Wordsworth connections of Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount.
The level path along the ¾ mile long ¼ mile wide Rydal Water is perfect for leisurely strolls, where the visitor will find a set of steps leading to an area of rock known as “Wordsworth’s Seat,” and said to be the poet's favourite viewpoint.
A fairly steep stony trail from the lower reaches, up through the trees on the western side, leads to the remarkable Rydal Cave set in the fells above. From here, there are particularly fine views of craggy wooded fell slopes, and beyond, Dunmail Raise, on the route to Keswick.
The lake is joined to the Grasmere waters by the River Rothay. The path alongside the river provides a mellow walk to the wooden bridge at the southern end of Grasmere. There is a higher level track, from where the magnificent panorama is well worth the effort of the not too demanding climb.
This is a location of exceptional beauty and highly recommended to all. It is easily reached on the A591 from Keswick in the North, and Windermere and Kendal in the South. Regular bus services operate with connections to the larger towns and their railway stations.
Click on the photographs for a larger image.
All images open in a new window.
All images are 800x 600 resolution and may take a long time to download on slower internet connections.
For larger images (1024x768), please visit our
computer wallpapers section.
