Rydal Water

About Rydal Water

At 3/4 miles long and 55 feet deep, Rydal Water is one of the smallest lakes in the Lake District. Despite its small size though, it is extremely popular with visitors due to its links with William Wordsworth.

Interesting history

The viewpoint “Wordsworth’s Seat” offers fantastic views from the west end of the Lake. The natural outcrop is named after William Wordsworth, the famous poet who held the view in high esteem, and included it in his literature. Today, this view of Rydal Water and the surrounding area is regarded by some as being one of the best in the Lake District.

Stroll just a little distance away from the edge of the lake and you’ll find Rydal Hall. Built in the 16th century, the grand house was home to the le Fleming family, before becoming a conference centre in the 1900s. Take some time to explore the historic grounds, including the formal garden, which was designed by famous landscape architect, Thomas Mawson, in 1909. Various mosses, trees and native flora, which are well over 500 years old, still live in the gardens.

Walking at Rydal Water

There are number of fantastic trails to explore from the lake. One of our favourites is the Rydal Water Circular Walk. The gentle route is suitable for most walkers. The terrain is easy to traverse and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. The trail features stunning views of the peaks of Loughrigg Fell and Nab Schar.

Please note that due to the popularity of the small lake, parking near the trailhead is difficult in peak times. We recommend arriving early to find a parking space!

Things to do nearby

Explore the village of Rydal

Rydal is often overlooked as some visitors favour the larger, more popular areas of Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere. This only adds to Rydal’s charm though. The quaint village is unassuming, beautiful and full of interesting local stories about its history accommodating famous poets.

There’s a reason the village attracted many poets who were looking for inspiration for their romantic literature and artwork – Rydal is a subdued and peaceful gem that must be explored! The villages’ most famous figure, William Wordsworth, is the reason some tourists visit. Walking the same literary trail as Wordsworth is a desirable experience for literature enthusiasts – and there are a number of tours which are led by locals that offer a structured, educational experience. Before leaving, make sure you have some tea in The Old School Room Tea Shop – which is situated at Rydal Hall.

Visit Rydal Water Cave

Rydal Cave is situated just above Rydal Water on the north side of the Loughrigg Fell. Though some believe the cave was formed naturally, the structure was actually man made – a result of slate quarrying. Stepping stones (shown below) lead into the cave where the shallow waters begin teeter off and your footing becomes dry. The cave is safe to explore both on your own or in a group, however if you’d prefer to learn about the area from a local, why not book a guided tour?

Visit Wordsworths’ Rydal Mount and Gardens

Here, you can visit William Wordsworths’ final house and gardens, where he lived from 1813 to 1850 and published many of his notable poems. The poet was a keen landscape gardener, and much of his works have been preserved.

Inside the house, many of Woodworths’ portraits, first edition poems and possessions are on display. You can book in advance to visit the historic house and gardens.

Photo credit: Luke McKernan | Flickr

Getting to Rydal Water

Rydal Water is less than a 30-minute drive from Park Cliffe, so you can enjoy a full day taking in the sights at Rydal Water and exploring the historic town before heading back to your cosy accommodation.

Rydal Water is just one of many stunning lakes that we highly recommend visiting whilst staying at the award-winning Park Cliffe Holiday Park.

Header and gallery photo credits: Jim Leach | Flickr, Andrew Guitar | Flickr, Pat Neary | Flickr