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Central/Southern Lake District
  • Andrew's Travels

Central/Southern Lake District

A visit to the Lake District based in Ambleside Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 29, 2024
    Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    Bridge House (Stock Ghyll passes underneath it)
    Market HallMarket PlaceMarket CrossSt Mary's Church; it is noted for its stone spireLocal walk 1; on the riverside footpathLocal walk 1; at the junction of the River Rothay and the River BrathayLocal walk 1; at the junction of the River Rothay and the River BrathayAmbleside Roman FortAmbleside Roman FortLocal walk 2; Stock GhyllLocal walk 2; Stock Ghyll Force (waterfall)Local walk 2; en route back from Stock GhyllAmblefest; Meetwood FlacAmblefest; The Tap Tavern beer festival

    Ambleside; town and local walks

    September 29, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We're spending a week in Ambleside in the Lake District, an area we've both visited many times in the past; it is a mountainous region and national park in Cumbria, North West England and famous for its landscape and literary associations.

    Ambleside is a market town that sits at the head of Windermere, England's largest natural lake. We have a brief walk in the town and then set off on the riverside walk to the Ambleside Roman Fort; this was built in the 1st or 2nd century under Hadrian's rule to guard the Roman Road from Brougham to Ravenglass, and to act as a supply base. We then set off on the short 2.5-mile circular local walk along Stock Ghyll, a tributary of the River Rothay, that runs through it (see captions on photos).

    Later in the afternoon, we catch the last part of Amblefest, an annual beer and music festival held here at the end of September; Meetwood Flac is a tribute / covers band for Fleetwood Mac and were amazing!

    A good first day!    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    View after joining the footpath at Scandale Bridge
    View of Rydal WaterRydal Hall; Grot and waterfallRydal Hall; waterfallRydal HallRydal Hall; two angelsRydal Hall; giant spiderRydal; St Mary's ChurchRydal Mount; William Wordsworth family homeRydal WaterGrasmere; Dove Cottage - William Wordsworth lived hereGrasmere; St Oswald's ChurchGrasmere; inside St Oswald's ChurchGrasmere; St Oswald's Church - William Wordsworth gravestoneGrasmere; St Oswald's Church - in the Wordsworth Daffodil GardenGrasmere: Bridge over the River RothayGrasmere; the famous gingerbread shop next to the churchGrasmere; view of the surrounding countryside

    Ambleside to Grasmere Walk via Rydal

    September 29, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    We set off on a very popular linear walk from Ambleside to Grasmere, planning to return by bus.

    There are great views en route to the Rydal Hall Estate; Rydal Hall is a large detached house on the outskirts of the village of Rydal and Grade II listed. We then visit the small village of Rydal, known for its association with William Wordsworth, an English Romantic poet who lived here with his family.

    More great views as we carry on to Grasmere and pass Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived with his sister (both the cottage and the Wordsworth Museum near to it were unfortunately closed today). Wordsworth is buried in St. Oswald's Church in Grasmere, which we visit. Next to the church is Grasmere's famous Gingerbread Shop (it's delicious).

    The plan worked, and we caught the bus back to Ambleside after what was a 5.6-mile walk and an interesting visit to Grasmere.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    Hill Top; pathway to the house
    Hill TopHill Top; insideHill Top; insideHill Top; view of the gardenWray CastleWray CastleWray Castle; view from the entranceWray Castle; insideWray Castle; walking along the edge of Lake WindermereWray Castle; walking along the edge of Lake WindermereWray Castle; a boat shed on the lakesideWray Castle; St Margaret's ChurchWray Castle

    Hill Top and Wray Castle

    September 30, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    It's a wet day today (not uncommon in the Lake District), so no big walks! We visit two sites with association to Beatrix Potter, a famous English writer and illustrator best known for her children's books (eg, The Tales of Peter Rabbit).

    The first is Hill Top in a village called Near Sawrey; this is a 17th century house, which Beatrix Potter moved into in 1896, aged 30. It is now managed by the National Trust and open as a writer's house museum as she would have known it - an interesting visit.

    Afterwards, we headed to Wray Castle, near Lower Wray, on the edge of Lake Windermere; Beatrix Potter stayed here on a family holiday to the Lake District when she was a teenager. Wray Castle began to be built in 1840 in the neo-Gothic style by James Dawson as a Lakeland Villa but intended to look older. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1929. Only the ground floor is open at present, and we visit The exhibition there; "Everests - One Mountain, Many Worlds," which tells the story of the almost forgotten Sherpas. We then follow the map guided walks around the grounds, seeing the lakeside and St Margaret's Church.

    Another interesting visit and a good day out.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    View towards the Fairfield Horseshoe
    View of AmblesideEn routeView of Lake WindermereLily TarnLoughrigg TarnView of Elter WaterAt the top of Loughrigg FellView down to Lake WindermereView down to Lake GrasmereLake GrasmereRydal Water from Loughrigg Terrace

    Loughrigg Fell

    October 1, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    We meet up with Laura, an old friend of Helen's, and set off on a "proper" Lake District walk around Loughrigg Fell from Ambleside.

    We leave the town via St Mary's Church and Rothay Park and cross the river Rothay at Miller Bridge; we then walk up and across to Lily Tarn, enjoying good views en route. We cross Loughrigg Fell, having enjoying views down to Loughrigg Tarn and Elter Water, before a steep ascent to the top of Loughrigg Fell (335 m / 1,099 ft above sea level). It is starting to get very windy here, and we can see both Lake Windermere and Lake Grasmere. It is a steep descent to reach Loughrigg Terrace, where we turn east and walk along the southern edge of Rydal Water. We then cross the A591 to Rydal Mount and walk back to Scandale Bridge via Rydal Hall (see earlier post); it's the bus back to Ambleside.

    It's been a 7.3-mile hike involving 1,562 ft of ascent, and it's great to see Laura again.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    Ambleside Waterhead
    View of Wray CastleEn route along Claife HeightsMoored boats on Lake WindermereAnglers looking towards Belle IslandView from Caitlap PointView back from Caitlap PointEntrance to Claife Viewing StationClaife Viewing StationOn Claife Viewing StationView from Claife Viewing StationView from Claife Viewing StationClaife Viewing StationClaife Viewing Station from the boat to BownessBowness-on-WindermereHen Holme and Lady HolmeView en route to BrockholeView of WansfellAnother view of WansfellView close to Ambleside Waterhead

    Lake Windermere; boat / west shore walk

    October 2, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Today, we get Walker's tickets for a circular boat/walking route of the northern half of Lake Windermere.

    We walk down to the Ambleside Pier at Waterhead and take the boat to Low Wray Bay; from here, we walk around Watbarrow Point, past Wray Castle (see earlier post) and down the western shore of Lake Windermere, with Claife Heights Country Park on our right. We pass various small quays and bays, eventually reaching Caitlap Point and Claife Viewing Station; this is a viewing platform built in 1790 for the first tourists to the Lake District - there are beautiful panoramic views, including some which can be framed by coloured glass to recreate different seasons.

    From here, it is a short walk to Ash Landing, where we catch a boat to Bowness-on-Windermere and then another to go back to Ambleside Waterhead.

    It's been a super day out, with excellent views all the way.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    View towards Fletcher's Wood
    Near Dale EndLittle Langdale TarnSlater's BridgeLoughrigg FellGreat HowThe DubsView over Hodge Close Quarry (disused)Loughrigg Fell en route to Oxen FellIn the Tongue Intake PlantationSkelwith ForceAlong the Cumbria Way back to ElterwaterBelted Galloway Cows on Elterwater

    Elterwater and Skelwith Force

    October 3, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Today, we follow a route from Elterwater found on the OS app. We take the 9:25 bus from Ambleside to Elterwater, not far away in the Valley of Great Langdale.

    Our route takes us past the Eltermere Hotel towards Dale End and on past Little Langdale Tarn and over Slater's Bridge; this is a traditional packhorse bridge made from slate that was a favourite of Alfred Wainwright. We turn towards Slang End and then head south over the muddy Little Fell, past Great How and over The Dub. We pass Hodge Close Farm and the large abandoned quarry near to it before doubling back and over towards the High and Low Oxen Fells; there are great views of Loughrigg Fell en-route. We walk through the Tongue Intake Plantation and then pass Park Farm to Skelwith Force; this is a well-known waterfall on the River Brathay. We then double back to Elterwater following the Cumbria Way along the banks of the River Brathay. Unfortunately, much of Elter Water itself is obscured by trees.

    It's been a varied 10-mile walk with great views and recommended.    Read more

  • Andrew's TravelsCentral/Southern Lake DistrictTraveler
    View near start of walk, from Easedale Road
    Easedale BeckEasedale BeckEasedale BeckSourmilk Gill WaterfallView down the valley near the waterfallNearing the top of the ascent1Easedale TarnEasedale TarnEasedale TarnDownhill all the way!Brimmer Head FarmStepping stones over Easedale Beck, near Goodly BridgeStepping stones over Easedale Beck, near Goodly BridgeView of Helm Crag

    Grasmere to Easedale Tarn

    October 4, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    This is a popular walk from one of our Walks books that is also on the OS app.

    After taking the bus to Grasmere (see earlier post), our route takes us via some woods along the River Rothay to Easedale Road, which we follow past Goody Bridge to take the track along Easedale Beck. We carry straight on towards the Sourmilk Gill Waterfalls and have a steep ascent here towards Brimhowe Crag; gill or ghyll is the local term for a small, open stream, usually with steep sides. There are good views back down into the valley, and we soon reach Easedale Tarn.

    We descend via the other side of Sourmilk Gill, some of it via big stones for the footpath, as it is damp underfoot. We eventually reach Easedale Beck and follow this, passing large farm buildings to reach a footbridge over the Beck (New Bridge) to rejoin the path back to Easedale Road. At Goody Bridge, we turn off and recross Easedale Beck via a beautiful stepping stone crossing; the Beck is a lot wider here, as it soon runs into the River Rothay. We walk past Allan Bank House, a two storey villa occupied by William Wordsworth 1808-11, as we reach Grasmere.    Read more

    Trip end
    October 5, 2024
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