Route: Circuit of Rydal Water
Area: Central Lake District
Date of walk: 4th October 2018
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 3.7 miles
Ascent: 500 feet
Weather: Low cloud, drizzle, then rain
I’ve had a wonderful run of weather on my walks this year, and for the last 6 months or so have enjoyed almost continuous good weather. All good things come to an end sooner or later, and today was that day. The weather was dull when I set off for Rydal Water, but at least it wasn’t raining and so after parking on the roadside by St Mary’s Church Rydal (for which a £2 fee is payable to the church) I set off up the hill past Rydal Mount. I turned left at a junction to join the old Coffin Road, so called as it was once used to transport the dead to Grasmere for burial
This is a delightful mid level route, and I’d planned to walk around Grasmere as well, but as I continued the light drizzle turned into rain. When I reached a fork in the path it was decision time. I could carry on straight ahead to Grasmere, or descend to White Moss and shorten the walk. In view of the deteriorating conditions I decided on the latter and, after walking through White Moss Woods, I crossed the bridge over the River Rothay, which at this point divides Rydal Water from Grasmere
This brought me to Loughrigg Terrace, one of the loveliest half miles in lakeland, although it can be too busy at peak times. Thanks to the wet weather this wasn’t the case today
I followed the lower path as there was no point gaining height for the views, it was too misty and the rain was increasing in its intensity. On reaching the foot of the lake I crossed the wooden footbridge over the River Rothay, passing by St Mary’s Church again as I made my way back to the start
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
A few photos from yesterday - red squirrel in the morning...
...followed by a short walk in Borrowdale woodland, too short to feature on this site
Castle Crag
The same night, a hedgehog in the garden
Next day, the start of the walk from St Mary's Church Rydal
After walking uphill past the church, I join the Coffin Road. On my left are the grounds of Rydal Mount, William Wordsworth’s family home from 1813 to his death in 1850
Further along the path
Views down to Rydal Water...
The path contours around the fellside (the lower slopes of Heron Pike)...
The views are very limited today, with murky mist and constant drizzle
The drizzle turned into rain, and here I decided to branch left rather than continue to Grasmere
I pass by this waterfall as I descend to the road
After crossing the Grasmere road, I follow a path through White Moss woodland
I then cross the attractive bridge over the River Rothay where it flows between Rydal Water and Grasmere
The River Rothay
I follow the easy path through the woods
I emerge onto Loughrigg Terrace, a heavenly but often over populated path - today it's relatively quiet thanks to the weather
An old barn below the path
Loughrigg Terrace - there is a higher path which runs parallel, but there was no point following it as the views were limited by the fog
Heron Island
Loughrigg Fell up on the right
Further along Loughrigg Terrace
Heron Island again - it's well named as I always see a heron when visiting here, and today was no exception
The boathouse at the head of the lake provides a good focal point for the photos which follow...
Beyond the foot of the lake, the River Rothay which will continue its journey to Windermere...
Birch trees near the riverbank
I cross the footbridge over the Rothay and walk back up the road to St Mary's Church to end a wet but enjoyable walk
