Grasmere and Rydal Water

29 December 2007

With the weather forecast predicting a low cloud base and rain, a low level walk seemed in order, and I decided to walk round Grasmere and Rydal Water. The rain stopped at twelve o'clock and from the free road parking on the edge of Grasmere we walk out to the main road. With much of Seat Sandal visible, the cloud base doesn't seem as low as expected.

Walking along the main road, looking back towards Grasmere village and the central fells beyond

Wet fields show the that the delightful pre-Christmas weather has taken a turn for the worse. On the right can be seen Helm Crag, with some of the Easedale fells behind Grasmere village.

When we reached Town End we turned up past Dove Cottage and over the shoulder of White Moss Common. The logical route would have been to continue along the bridleway above the woods, but the original plan had been to start the walk at the White Moss Common car park, a plan foiled by the excessive coinage demands of the ticket machines there: as a result, the route plotted on my map took me down to the car park (the original end point) and up again (from the original start point), and carelessly I followed that. Never mind, it wasn't a big diversion, and it did mean that we got to see this pleasant waterfall.

Back on the main route, and a view across Rydal Water to Loughrigg Fell. About this point the rain started, and continued with some force for the rest of the walk.

George waits to cross the footbridge across the River Rothay at the foot of Rydal Water.

Rydal Water in the rain as we prepare to take the southern, lake-shore path back to Grasmere

Canoeists taking advantage of the force of water following along the Rothay between Grasmere and Rydal Water.

Approaching Grasmere after a very wet walk along the Rydal Water path.

Grasmere from the lake shore path. The National Trust's permissive path along Grasmere was much easier underfoot than the Rydal Water path.

Total distance 10.84 km and 332 metres of ascent in 2 hours 35 minutes